January 16, 2009 - St. Jude Medical Inc. said its ViewMate II Ultrasound System with the ViewFlex PLUS Intracardiac Echocardiography (ICE) Catheter was used for the first use outside the U.S., enabling physicians to view real-time images from inside the heart as they diagnose and treat conditions resulting from abnormal rhythms or structural problems.
By reportedly providing clear, accurate images of the heart’s interior anatomy and the position of devices, the system enables physicians to perform procedures with increased control.
The ViewMate system uses ultrasound technology to produce high-resolution intracardiac (inside the heart) images. The system transmits high-frequency sound waves through a transducer on the tip of the catheter – the transducer converts electric energy into sound energy, the sound waves then reflect off structures inside the heart and the transducer converts them back into electric energy to produce the anatomical images.
The intracardiac images created by the ViewMate II System help guide physicians in performing procedures such as radiofrequency (RF) ablation to treat irregular heart rhythms, including atrial fibrillation (AF), and in closing defects such as patent foramen ovale (PFO), a small hole or opening in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart (the atria). Clear views inside the heart also help reduce the time that it takes physicians to perform procedures, enabling patients to recover more quickly and enhancing hospital productivity.
The ViewMate II System with the ViewFlex PLUS Catheter recently received European CE Mark approval. The system also received FDA clearance in January 2008 and has been used in the U.S. since that time. St. Jude Medical began marketing and distributing the ViewMate II System with ViewFlex PLUS Catheter following its merger with EP MedSystems Inc. in July 2008.
For more information: www.sjm.com