Biosense Webster, Inc., a worldwide leader in the diagnosis and treatment of heart arrhythmias and part of Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies*, announced today the launch of the #UnitedbyVision campaign.
IRVINE, CA, JANUARY 23, 2019 – Biosense Webster, Inc., a worldwide leader in the diagnosis and treatment of heart arrhythmias and part of Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies*, announced today the launch of the #UnitedbyVision campaign. Inspired by the ability of the newly-launched CARTO VIZIGO Sheath which allows electrophysiologists to better “see” during procedures to treat atrial fibrillation, the campaign is designed to bring the power of vision to others.
Biosense Webster will be making a charitable donation to the cureblindness.org - Himalayan Cataract Project to provide up to 4,000 vision correction procedures to underserved populations around the world.
“For more than 20 years, Biosense Webster has provided innovative solutions that allow electrophysiologists (EPs) to quickly discover, accurately interpret, and effectively treat atrial fibrillation (AF),” said Uri Yaron, Worldwide President of Biosense Webster, Inc. “In launching the CARTO VIZIGO sheath and the #UnitedbyVision campaign, we are providing EPs the ability to see their sheath on our CARTO mapping system, while providing the gift of vision to thousands in need in the developing world.”
Globally, 217 million people struggle with low vision and another 36 million people are blind; treatable cataracts are a leading cause.[1] Some 18 million needlessly-blind cataract patients still await care, most of them with no place to turn. The Himalayan Cataract Project works to overcome barriers impeding delivery of cataract care to underserved, needlessly blind people in the developing world. Their doctors have restored vision to hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
The CARTO VIZIGO Launch
The CARTO VIZIGO Bi-directional Guiding Sheath is the first commercially available steerable guiding sheath that can be visualized on the CARTO 3 System during a catheter ablation procedure, reducing the need for EPs to depend solely on fluoroscopy to determine its location.
A sheath is an introducer routinely used by EPs to facilitate catheter access, stability, and tissue contact when targeting ablation sites to treat arrhythmias such as AF. Many EPs use fluoroscopy to identify the location of the sheath, therefore requiring the use of lead to protect themselves from radiation during the procedure. Research shows that up to 62% of medical staff suffer from chronic musculoskeletal pain from wearing these heavy protective garments.[2] Additionally, patients are exposed to a radiation dose equivalent to 830 chest x-rays during a conventional radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedure.[3]
“CARTO VIZIGO is an advancement that elevates the standard of care that EPs in America deliver to patients with atrial fibrillation,” said Daniella Cramp, U.S. President of Biosense Webster, Inc. “Our customers will be delighted to know that we are also supporting care for disadvantaged patients living with cataracts. Together, we are truly changing the course of human health for better.”
About Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
An estimated 33 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with AF and its prevalence is projected to increase significantly as the population ages.[4] Most AF patients who receive catheter ablation treatment experience a long-term reduction in the number of episodes of the arrhythmia and the severity of symptoms. In fact, many achieve a permanent return to normal heart rhythm. As with any medical treatment, individual results may vary. Only a cardiologist or electrophysiologist can determine whether ablation is an appropriate course of treatment. There are potential risks including bleeding, swelling or bruising at the catheter insertion site, and infection. More serious complications are rare, which can include damage to the heart or blood vessels; blood clots (which may lead to stroke); heart attack, or death. These risks need to be discussed with your doctor and recovery takes time.
About Himalayan Cataract Project
The Himalayan Cataract Project and its extensive network of partners work across South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa to bring world-class eye care to the needlessly blind through quality care, clinical training and the establishment of first-rate ophthalmic infrastructures. Co-founder Sanduk Ruit MD, born in Nepal, educated in India, together with American ophthalmologist, Geoff Tabin MD, recognized the unmet eye health need in the Himalayas and made a vow in 1995 to eliminate preventable and treatable blindness. Visit https://www.cureblindness.org/ to learn more.
About Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies
As the world’s most comprehensive medical devices business, we are building on a century of experience, merging science and technology, to shape the future of health and benefit even more people around the world. With our unparalleled breadth, depth and reach across surgery, orthopaedics and interventional solutions, we’re working to profoundly change the way care is delivered. We are in this for life. For more information, visit www.jnjmedicaldevices.com.
About Biosense Webster, Inc.
Biosense Webster, Inc., part of Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, is a global leader in the science of diagnosing and treating heart rhythm disorders. The company partners with clinicians to develop innovative technologies that improve the quality of care for arrhythmia patients worldwide. For more information, visit www.biosensewebster.com.
*Comprising the surgery, orthopedics, and interventional solutions businesses within Johnson & Johnson’s Medical Devices segment.
[1] World Health Organization. Blindness and Visual Impairment: Key Facts. http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment
[2] Ref: Orme JA Occupational Hazards of Interventional Cardiologists: Prevalence of Orthopedic Health Problems in Contemporary Practice Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions 63:407–411 (2004)
[3] *Effective dose of 16.6 (6.6-59.2) mSv Ref: Picano et al. Risks Related to Fluoroscopy Radiation Associated with EP Procedures. JAFIB Aug-Sep 2014
[4] European Heart Journal, Volume 37, Issue 38, 7 October 2016, Pages 2893–2962, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehw210
