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Intracardiac system allows real-time image guidance, heart visualization
Ultrasound combined with echocardiography catheter enables diagnosis and treatment during electrophysiology procedures.
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St. Jude Medical has recently announced the launch of two compatible intracardiac systems, the ViewMate Z ultrasound system and the ViewFlex Plus intracardiac echocardiography catheter, to assist clinicians during complex electrophysiology and interventional procedures.
Both systems are part of the fully contained Intracardiac Echocardiography (ICE) system now offered by St. Jude Medical.
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“The device allows you to image the heart using [ultrasound] from inside the heart (Intracardiac Echocardiogram — ICE), compared to echocardiogram obtained from the chest wall or inside the esophagus,” Mauricio Arruda, MD, director of the electrophysiology and atrial fibrillation centers at University Hospitals Harrington-McLaughlin Heart & Vascular Institute in Cleveland, told Cardiology Today.
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Reprinted with permission from St.
Jude Medical, |
Among the features offered in the device, according to a press release, are enhanced visualization, ease of use and advanced features such as rapid system cold boot-up time and an optional battery pack for the cart. Additionally, the release stated that the ICE catheter, which features an Agilis-style handle, offers improved one-handed control with steering angles of up to 120·, as well as enhanced tip stability.
The probe now in use, Arruda said, is the byproduct of changes made to the initial probe that improved how it moved inside the heart.
“One of the improvements is that when you make a change [to obtain a certain imaging window inside of the heart], you make the change on the same plane. It’s no longer off plane as it used to be. And that’s favorable because you are able to keep the image in the view and just change the depth that you can see,” he said. “The new console is more convenient in the lab space because it’s a much smaller system than conventional echo machines. The display is very good, and it’s easy to assess the controls and the functions of the console.”
According to Arruda, for the past 10 years, a similar system has been on the market and is being used worldwide (Acuson, Johnson & Johnson). “This [St. Jude Medical] system allows for the same type of imaging, providing physicians with an alternative to what’s out there,” he said.
Regarding potential advancements to the St. Jude Medical device in the years ahead, Arruda said: “We’re all expecting some improvement of the catheter we put inside the heart that should allow for more flexibility of different ways to image inside. … There has also been proposed a series of different probes in the near future that will allow very detailed mapping of different angles inside the heart that’s very promising.” – by Brian Ellis
Disclosure: Dr. Arruda reports being a paid consultant for St. Jude Medical and Biosense Webster (Johnson & Johnson).