Devices Interventional Cardiology

 News Release - May 17, 2006

Hansen Medical Showcases New Robotic Catheter Technology for Accurate 3D Control During Cardiac Procedures

Revolutionary Technology May Reduce Radiation Exposure and Physician Fatigue

BOSTON, MA--(Healthcare Sales & Marketing Network)--May 17, 2006 -- HRS Booth #1131 -- Hansen Medical, Inc., a developer of robotic technology for accurate 3D control of catheter movement during cardiac procedures, will showcase the Sensei(TM) Robotic Catheter System* here at the Heart Rhythm Society's 27th Annual Scientific Sessions, May 17-20, 2006. The new system is designed to allow physicians to place mapping catheters in hard-to-reach anatomical locations within the heart easily and with stability during the diagnostic phase of cardiac arrhythmia treatment.

"The robotic technology embodied in the Sensei system could fundamentally change the way physicians perform percutaneous cardiac procedures and, at the same time, lead to a greater number of physicians able to perform them," said Frederic Moll, M.D., founder and chief executive officer of Hansen Medical, Inc. "The Sensei system gives physicians the freedom to extend their reach into areas of the heart via a robotically controlled catheter that provides instinctive and deliberate catheter guidance regardless of image orientation."

The Sensei system is compatible with fluoroscopy, ultrasound, 3D surface map and patient electrocardiogram data, and is adaptable to any existing electrophysiology (EP) procedure room. The mobile workstation, which is placed away from direct radiation, allows the physician to remain seated throughout the procedure. In addition to lessening operator fatigue, it creates a virtual shield for physicians against harmful radiation during catheter-based percutaneous EP procedures.

Clinical evaluations using the Sensei system were performed in Europe with successful outcomes. Results indicate that remote control and placement of catheters with this novel robotic catheter control system produced favorable outcomes.

Andrea Natale, M.D., director for the Center for Atrial Fibrillation, director of the Electrophysiology Laboratories and head of the Section of Pacing and Electrophysiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, used the system during clinical evaluation on 23 patients at the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine in Prague, Czech Republic, and the Klinikum Coburg in Germany. "In my experience, the stability of the catheter allowed us to perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures more efficiently and effectively," said Dr. Natale. "Moreover, the incorporation of the new Sensei system and catheter did not add time to the procedures, nor did it require increased radiation time, as would normally be expected with new technology. As a result, I would expect this new system to someday become the medical standard for catheter guidance during percutaneous procedures."

The Sensei system is designed to operate in conjunction with the Artisan(TM) Control Catheter* that contains a through lumen to accommodate percutaneous catheters. The control catheter is capable of movement with six degrees of freedom, which facilitates placement of percutaneous catheters in locations that are difficult to reach. EP procedures utilizing conventional technology require that physicians perform a series of complex manipulations at one end of a compliant catheter in an attempt to position the other end accurately within a patient's beating heart. The inherent challenges of these systems can lead to increased procedure times, repeat procedures and difficulties reaching targeted tissues with precision. The new Sensei system and the Artisan catheter may offer physicians predictable control during EP procedures.

About Hansen Medical

Hansen Medical, Inc., based in Mountain View, Calif., was founded in 2002 to develop technology for the accurate and efficient control of catheter movement in 3D spaces during percutaneous cardiac procedures. Additional information can be found at www.hansenmedical.com.

*The Sensei Robotic Catheter System, including the Artisan Control Catheter, requires regulatory clearance and is not yet commercially available.

This document contains forward-looking statements about Hansen Medical, Inc. All forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the ability of Hansen Medical to control, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance or achievements. All statements contained in this document that are not clearly historical in nature or that necessarily depend on future events are forward-looking and the words "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "plan," and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Source: Hansen Medical

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