St. Jude Medical Launches MediGuide Technology

October 8, 2012—St. Jude Medical, Inc. (St. Paul, MN) announced the launch of its MediGuide technology, a three-dimensional navigation system intended for the evaluation of vascular and cardiac anatomy on a recorded fluoroscopic image instead of live fluoroscopy. The recorded technology allows physicians to reduce the duration of radiation exposure during cardiovascular procedures.

According to St. Jude Medical, the MediGuide system is similar to a consumer global positioning system. MediGuide technology uses magnetic tracking to allow physicians to see the precise location and orientation of MediGuide Enabled devices, which have miniature sensors embedded in them. These devices include the MediGuide Enabled Livewire diagnostic catheter and the CPS Excel MediGuide Enabled guidewire.

The company stated that the technology applies three-dimensional visualization to previously recorded fluoroscopic images in real time. Automatic adjustments are made to the recorded images to maintain an accurate real-time clinical representation that compensates for cardiac motion, respiratory changes, and patient movements in order to minimize workflow delays.

MediGuide technology integrates the Artis Zee angiography systems (Siemens Healthcare, Malvern, PA). The Artis Zee line of interventional radiology and cardiology imaging devices are combined to provide improved navigation during electrophysiology procedures.

Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, MD, of the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, commented on the MediGuide technology in the company's press release. The University of Kansas Hospital is the first medical facility in the United States to use the MediGuide system.

“The launch of MediGuide technology is significant as it allows clinicians to perform cardiac procedures with less fluoroscopy and the corresponding exposure to harmful radiation,” stated Dr. Lakkireddy. “This revolutionary system reduces the need for live fluoroscopy, while providing unprecedented views inside the heart, improving complex cardiac resynchronization therapy and cardiac ablation image-guided procedures for physicians, patients, and medical staff around the world.”