More and more heart failure patients are needing a higher shock than the standard delivered by implantable cardioverter-defibrillators to correct their heart rhythm. This week, Biotronik launched the first ICD in the U.S. that meets this need.
Patients with tachycardia, or an abnormally fast heart rate, often require an ICD to convert dangerous arrhythmias to a normal heart rate. ICDs must deliver sufficiently powerful shocks to the heart as soon as possible, the company said in a statement. Varying heart anatomies may cause a patient to need a stronger shock than is standard.
The Inventra HF-T ICD delivers “ultra-high” energy, with 42 joules on the first shock as compared to the 36- or 37-joule shocks given by traditional ICDs.
"For an increasing number of patients--specifically those with larger cardiac anatomy and lower ejection fraction--a shock that is higher than the standard 36-37 J may be needed to convert irregular arrhythmia," said Dr. Mark Mascarenhas, an electrophysiologist at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ, in the statement. "The sooner an effective shock can be delivered, the likelihood of survival increases for these patients. For such patients, a CRT-D that delivers ultra-high energy on the first shock has a higher chance of converting the irregular arrhythmia. With the availability of Inventra HF-T, more heart failure patients will be able to receive 42 J energy delivered upon the first shock and, hence, receive life-saving therapy."
Berlin-based Biotronik specializes in cardiac rhythm management and vascular solutions. Its other offerings include pacemakers to correct bradycardia, or abnormally slow heart rhythms, cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers and defibrillators and peripheral stent systems and balloon catheters.