Medical device manufacturer, CardioFocus has announced that the HeartLight Endoscopic Ablation System (EAS) developed to treat atrial fibrillation has been introduced in The Heart Hospital, London.
On August 17, 2011, the Heartlight EAS was used to treat the first group of atrial fibrillation patients in the UK with several more treatments to follow this month.
The treatment procedures at The Heart Hospital were performed by consultant cardiologists, Dr Edward Rowland and Dr Oliver Segal and proctored by Dr Boris Schmidt, an expert in EAS technology from Frankfurt’s Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien.
The HeartLight EAS technology developed by CardioFocus features an illuminating endoscope that provides physicians with the image within a beating heart. It is radiation free and the direct visualization is possible in real time. For a precise and more efficient ablation, it uses laser energy and additionally features an adjustable balloon catheter designed for improved pulmonary vein (PV) ostium contact.
Official data recorded recently shows that after a procedure with Heartlight EAS, almost 86 percent of PVs remained isolated for a period of approximately 90 days and 65 % of the patients gained considerable relief from atrial fibrillation.
The President and Chief Executive Officer of CardioFocus, Stephen Sagon stated that the Heartlight EAS technology is being adopted by the electrophysiology community as a reproducible and more durable ablation option for atrial fibrillation patients. Furthermore, CardioFocus will continue introducing the technology to other European medical facilities.
Source: http://www.CardioFocus.com