HRS: Siemens debuts intra-cardiac volume catheter
Siemens Healthcare showcased the clinical benefits of its Acuson AcuNav V ultrasound catheter, a volume intra-cardiac echocardiography (VICE) catheter, at the 2009 Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) meeting this week in Boston.
With real-time volumetric information from inside the heart, the new volume catheter will improve therapeutic ablation procedures and other electrophysiology (EP) applications facilitating workflow and improving performance in the EP lab, according to Siemens.
"It's like using a flashlight within the human heart," said Klaus Hambuechen, CEO of ultrasound at Siemens. "The Acuson AcuNav V catheter provides physicians with high-resolution volumetric ultrasound information about the anatomy and the tools used during EP procedures, reducing the need for fluoroscopic visualization to ultimately improve patient care and increase safety within the EP lab."
Adding the benefits of volume imaging to the technique will dramatically improve and simplify the visualization of ablation catheter position, catheter-tissue contact and bubble formation during RF energy delivery, the company said.
The AcuNav V volume catheter will exclusively be available for use with the new Acuson SC2000 volume imaging ultrasound system, which delivers non-stitched, full-volume imaging of the heart in one single heart cycle, Siemens said.
With real-time volumetric information from inside the heart, the new volume catheter will improve therapeutic ablation procedures and other electrophysiology (EP) applications facilitating workflow and improving performance in the EP lab, according to Siemens.
"It's like using a flashlight within the human heart," said Klaus Hambuechen, CEO of ultrasound at Siemens. "The Acuson AcuNav V catheter provides physicians with high-resolution volumetric ultrasound information about the anatomy and the tools used during EP procedures, reducing the need for fluoroscopic visualization to ultimately improve patient care and increase safety within the EP lab."
Adding the benefits of volume imaging to the technique will dramatically improve and simplify the visualization of ablation catheter position, catheter-tissue contact and bubble formation during RF energy delivery, the company said.
The AcuNav V volume catheter will exclusively be available for use with the new Acuson SC2000 volume imaging ultrasound system, which delivers non-stitched, full-volume imaging of the heart in one single heart cycle, Siemens said.