Florida Hospital First in U.S. to Use Stereotaxis Vdrive(R) Duo(TM) System to Control Multiple Diagnostic Devices
March 27 2015 - 6:30AM
Stereotaxis, Inc. (Nasdaq:STXS), a global leader in innovative
technologies for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, and the
Florida Hospital Cardiovascular Institute in Orlando, Fla., today
announced the first use of the Stereotaxis Vdrive Duo™ robotic
navigation system in the U.S. to control multiple diagnostic
devices during a cardiac ablation procedure. Dr. Usman Siddiqui, an
electrophysiologist with the Florida Hospital Cardiovascular
Institute, performed the procedure in early February.
"The addition of the Vdrive Duo system to our ablation center
enables us to conduct fully remote, single-operator ablation
procedures in patients with a wide range of heart arrhythmias,"
said Dr. Siddiqui. "We are proud to be one of the few facilities in
Florida to offer the Stereotaxis suite of technologies, which has
greatly improved the speed, accuracy and safety of these complex
procedures."
The Vdrive Duo system includes two robotic arms, enabling remote
control and manipulation of up to two devices during ablation
procedures performed with the Niobe® ES remote magnetic navigation
system. While the Niobe ES system remotely controls the
magnetically enabled ablation catheter delivering therapy, the
Vdrive Duo system is able to remotely control diagnostic catheters,
such as intracardiac echocardiography catheters and variable loop
catheters, which are frequently repositioned during ablation
procedures. This capability can improve procedure efficiency,
preventing multiple trips in and out of the procedure room to
reposition the diagnostic catheters, as well as provide greater
precision of movement and stability of the diagnostic
catheters. In addition, the Vdrive Duo system can be used to
remotely control the advancement, retraction, and rotation of a
compatible fixed-curve transseptal sheath, which provides stability
and support to the ablation catheter during an ablation procedure.
Depending upon which Vdrive Duo-compatible devices are needed
during the ablation procedure, physicians will use some combination
of the three Vdrive system disposable products released to date in
the U.S., which include the V-Sono™ ICE catheter manipulator, the
V-Loop™ variable loop catheter manipulator and the V-CAS™ catheter
advancement system.
About Cardiac Ablation Therapy
Ablation procedures are often used to help correct heart
arrhythmias by cauterizing (burning) cells to eliminate rhythm
abnormalities in patients. During an ablation procedure, an
electrophysiologist (a cardiologist with specialized training in
the electrical system of the heart) will thread special electrode
catheters (long, thin, flexible wire assemblies) to the heart,
normally gaining access to the vasculature through the groin area.
Once it is determined which area of the heart is responsible for
the arrhythmia, a special wire carrying radiofrequency energy is
used to cauterize the site.
About Florida Hospital Cardiovascular
Institute
The Florida Hospital Cardiovascular Institute, part of the
Florida Hospital network of hospitals and healthcare facilities, is
the highest ranked hospital in the state of Florida for cardiology
and heart surgery according to U.S. News and World Report. The
Institute's vision is to lead the nation in the diagnosis and
treatment of cardiovascular disorders through the advancement of
clinically integrated care and guided by evidence-based practice,
clinical innovation and leading-edge research.
About Florida Hospital
Opened in 1908, Florida Hospital is a faith-based institution
focused on providing whole person care. It is one of the largest
not-for-profit hospitals in the country, caring for more than two
million patient visits per year – more than any other hospital in
the country, according to the American Hospital
Association. The Florida Division of Florida Hospital
stretches from coast to coast with 24 hospitals, more than 4,600
patient beds, and more than 32,000 employees. The division includes
the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children, dozens
of outpatient facilities and 26 Centra Care urgent care locations
throughout Central Florida.
About Stereotaxis
Stereotaxis is a healthcare technology and innovation leader in
the development of robotic cardiology instrument navigation systems
designed to enhance the treatment of arrhythmias and coronary
disease, as well as information management solutions for the
interventional lab. Over 100 issued patents support the Stereotaxis
platform, which helps physicians around the world provide
unsurpassed patient care with robotic precision and safety,
improved lab efficiency and productivity, and enhanced integration
of procedural information. Stereotaxis' core Epoch™ Solution
includes the Niobe® ES remote magnetic navigation system, the
Odyssey® portfolio of lab optimization, networking and patient
information management systems and the Vdrive® robotic navigation
system and consumables.
The core components of Stereotaxis systems have received
regulatory clearance in the U.S., European Union, Canada, China,
Japan and elsewhere. The V-Sono™ ICE catheter manipulator, V-Loop™
variable loop catheter manipulator and V-CAS™ catheter advancement
system have received U.S. clearance. For more information, please
visit www.stereotaxis.com.
This press release includes statements that may constitute
"forward-looking" statements, usually containing the words
"believe," "estimate," "project," "expect" or similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or
contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the
Company's ability to raise additional capital on a timely basis and
on terms that are acceptable, its ability to continue to manage
expenses and cash burn rate at sustainable levels, its ability to
continue to work with lenders to extend, repay or refinance
indebtedness on acceptable terms, continued acceptance of the
Company's products in the marketplace, the effect of global
economic conditions on the ability and willingness of customers to
purchase its systems and the timing of such purchases, competitive
factors, changes resulting from the recently enacted healthcare
reform in the U.S., including changes in government reimbursement
procedures, dependence upon third-party vendors, timing of
regulatory approvals, and other risks discussed in the Company's
periodic and other filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company
undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions
or changes after the date of this release. There can be no
assurance that the Company will recognize revenue related to its
purchase orders and other commitments in any particular period or
at all because some of these purchase orders and other commitments
are subject to contingencies that are outside of the Company's
control. In addition, these orders and commitments may be revised,
modified, delayed or canceled, either by their express terms, as a
result of negotiations, or by overall project changes or
delays.
CONTACT: Stereotaxis Contact:
Martin Stammer
Chief Financial Officer
314-678-6155
Todd Kehrli / Jim Byers
MKR Group, Inc.
323-468-2300
stxs@mkr-group.com