ST. LOUIS, March 27, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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 VdriveDuo 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 VdriveDuo 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 VdriveDuo 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 VdriveDuo 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<
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