Hansen Medical, St. Jude Medical sign EP technology deal
Hansen Medical Inc., a developer of robotic technology for accurate 3D control of catheter movement during cardiac procedures, has entered into joint development and co-marketing agreements with St. Jude Medical of St. Paul, Minn., an electrophysiology (EP) technology developer. The companies plan to integrate technologies from Hansen’s Sensei Robotic Catheter System and Artisan Control Catheter with St. Jude Medical’s EnSite System.

The robotic platform from Hansen Medical is designed to allow physicians to place mapping catheters in hard-to-reach anatomical locations within the heart more easily and with greater stability as compared to existing manual technique. The Sensei system has received CE mark in Europe, and the Artisan Control Catheter is currently pending CE mark approval, but is pending FDA clearance.

The EnSite system is a computer-based technology that facilitates EP procedures by creating real-time 3D graphical displays or maps of cardiac structures and arrhythmias.

Combining the Sensei and EnSite technologies is intended to provide physicians with 3D visualization that will augment their ability to confidently move a catheter throughout the heart, and greatly increase control over placement of the catheter in specific locations.

“This joint development agreement facilitates an advanced level of integration of the Sensei system with one of the market-leading 3D mapping technologies for EP,” said Frederic Moll, MD, founder and chief executive officer of Hansen Medical. “Integration of the Artisan catheter within the EnSite System’s 3D map will give physicians the ability to move the catheter deliberately and accurately while seeing specifically, in three dimensions, the location of the catheter inside the heart. This is an important step toward achieving automation of EP procedures, which we believe is key to providing clinicians of varying skill levels the ability to more effectively and safely treat complex cardiac arrhythmias.

“Once we have received regulatory clearance, St Jude Medical will be partnering with Hansen Medical in the marketing of integrated solutions for electrophysiologists…,” added Moll.

The joint development and worldwide co-marketing agreements between St. Jude Medical and Hansen Medical are two-year agreements.

“St. Jude Medical looks forward to working closely with Hansen Medical to integrate the two companies’ technologies and further develop this innovative approach to how physicians perform complex EP procedures today and in the future.” said Jane Song, president, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division.
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