St. Jude and GE Launch Wireless FFR Solution

March 30, 2009—St. Jude Medical, Inc. (St. Paul, MN) and GE Healthcare (Wauwatosa, WI) announced the worldwide commercial launch of a fully integrated wireless solution for the measurement of fractional flow reserve (FFR). The solution is based on the PressureWire Aeris technology and an FFR upgrade package available for the XT and XTi system configurations of GE's Mac-Lab hemodynamic recording system, which is used to record and display physiological parameters in the coronary catheterization lab. PressureWire Aeris was developed and marketed by Radi Medical Systems, Inc. (Wilmington, MA). Radi was acquired in December 2008 by St. Jude Medical and is now part of the company's Cardiovascular Division.

According to the companies, the Mac-Lab FFR upgrade utilizes existing catheterization lab infrastructure, including screens, input modules, and controls, and together with the PressureWire Aeris technology they form an integrated FFR measurement system for improved workflow, ease of use, and time efficiency. With all FFR results integrated into the existing physiological information archive, the hemodynamic severity of coronary lesions, as measured by FFR, is documented with other procedural data and angiographic imagery, creating a more complete patient record. The Mac-Lab FFR solution is available as an upgrade path to all existing GE Mac-Lab installations worldwide, as well as new installations, the companies stated.