Biomodex Introduces Transseptal Puncture Training Solution

January 14, 2021—Biomodex announced the launch of the company’s Transseptal Puncture Training solution. The digital health company offers a three-dimensional (3D)-printed solution for patient-specific rehearsal and physician training.

According to Biomodex, the next-generation training system is ultrasound (ie, transesophageal echocardiography [TEE] or intracardiac echocardiography [ICE]) compatible, and simulates the feel, friction, and haptic feedback of real heart tissue and blood vessels—enabling electrophysiologists and cardiologists to gain realistic, hands-on experience performing ultrasound-guided transseptal procedures.

Key features include a reusable cartridge (inferior and superior vena cava, right atrium, aorta, and mitral annulus), plug-and-play septum, TEE access via simulated esophagus, ICE compatibility via femoral access, and contrast agent and x-ray compatibility.

Biomodex’s transseptal training cartridges are 3D-printed using Biomodex’s Invivotech and Echotech technologies, which integrates multiple advanced materials. Invivotech mimics the mechanical behavior of cardiac tissue and blood vessels to deliver the same tactile feeling of an actual procedure. Echotech provides targeted acoustic properties and allows for the visualization of models using ultrasound (TEE, ICE).

The company noted that cardiologists and electrophysiologists use transseptal puncture with increasing frequency to access the left atrium in structural heart and electrophysiologic procedures. The technique comes with inherent risks and safety concerns related to injury of adjacent cardiac structures and perforations, and requires advanced skills and credentials to ensure success and patient safety.

“Adoption of emerging structural heart technologies require the operators to receive more specialized training to further industry adoption,” Juan F. Granada, MD, President and CEO of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, commented in the company’s announcement. “Biomodex’s latest solution offers an innovative alternative over traditional training methods because it enables physicians to gain experience by working on humanized models and using clinically adopted imaging tools in a real cath-lab environment. Due to the fact the training models are 3D-printed, we can adapt training to address more complex anatomies or specific technical challenges.”