Healthcare Industry News:  Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy 

Devices Cardiology

 News Release - January 30, 2007

Two Publications Highlight Stereotaxis Use for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT)

Publications Focus on the Value of the Stereotaxis Platform for Wire Navigation in Complex Procedures


ST. LOUIS, Jan. 30 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- Stereotaxis, Inc. (http://www.stereotaxis.com/) (Nasdaq: STXS ) today reported the publication of two scientific papers* in the January 2007 issue of the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology. The studies, conducted independently by physicians at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, VA, and Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, KY, described the results of clinical experience utilizing Stereotaxis magnetic navigation technology to facilitate the placement of left ventricular (LV) pacing leads through the coronary sinus and veins, the most complex portion of the CRT procedure.



Drs. Richard Shepard and Kenneth Ellenbogen from the Medical College of Virginia detailed approaches to more easily and effectively perform CRT procedures. They emphasized the ability of the Stereotaxis system to create three-dimensional blood vessel roadmapping from integrated images to navigate magnetic guidewires through complex angles and bends. This capability would be helpful in difficult cases and may significantly reduce harmful radiation exposure. They also describe how the ability of the system to select multiple blood vessels allows physicians to optimize the placement of the LV pacing lead, which has the potential to improve patient response to CRT.

Drs. Peter Gallagher, Gery Tomassoni, et al. from Central Baptist Hospital have demonstrated reduced procedure times and radiation usage for CRT procedures completed with the Stereotaxis system. This study compared Stereotaxis magnetic navigation with conventional manual techniques for LV lead placement, noting a nearly 40% reduction in LV lead placement time with magnetic navigation. This difference was increased to 50% during the more complex procedures that required access to multiple vein branches. Additionally, when the Stereotaxis system was used, the physicians were able to use fewer guidewires and were able to reduce their usage of contrast dye, which can be toxic to patients' kidneys. They concluded that, "Magnetic navigation is a safe, feasible, and efficient tool for lateral LV lead placement during CRT."

To better understand the value of magnetic wire navigation, as reported previously, Stereotaxis is currently engaged in an international clinical study with support from Medtronic, Inc. hypothesizing that optimizing lead placement by subselecting veins using magnetic navigation will lead to improved long term patient outcomes in heart failure patients undergoing CRT procedures. Drs. Shepard and Ellenbogen are investigators in this study.

* References

Initial Clinical Experience with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Utilizing a Magnetic Navigation System (http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/jce?cookieSet=1)

Challenges and Solutions for Difficult Implantations of CRT Devices: The Role of New Technology and Techniques (http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/jce)

About Stereotaxis

Stereotaxis designs, manufactures and markets an advanced cardiology instrument control system for use in a hospital's interventional surgical suite to enhance the treatment of coronary artery disease and arrhythmias. The Stereotaxis System is designed to enable physicians to complete more complex interventional procedures by providing image guided delivery of catheters and guidewires through the blood vessels and chambers of the heart to treatment sites. This is achieved using computer-controlled, externally applied magnetic fields that govern the motion of the working tip of the catheter or guidewire, resulting in improved navigation, shorter procedure time and reduced x-ray exposure. The core components of the Stereotaxis system have received regulatory clearance in the U.S., Europe and Canada.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release includes statements that may constitute "forward- looking" statements, usually containing the words "believe," "estimate," "project," "expect" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, continued acceptance of the Company's products in the marketplace, competitive factors, changes in government reimbursement procedures, dependence upon third-party vendors, and other risks discussed in the Company's periodic and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release. There can be no assurance that we will recognize revenue related to our purchase orders and other commitments in any particular period or at all because some of these purchase orders and other commitments are subject to contingencies that are outside of our control. In addition, these orders and commitments may be revised, modified or canceled, either by their express terms, as a result of negotiations, or by project changes or delays.


Source: Stereotaxis

Issuer of this News Release is solely responsible for its content.
Please address inquiries directly to the issuing company.



FindReps - Find Great Medical Independent Sales Reps without recruiter fees.
FindReps - available on the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad.