Biotronik has announced it will launch the Lumax DX system in Europe in the third quarter of 2010. The innovative ICD concept consists of the Lumax 540 VR-T DX single-chamber ICD and a specially designed Linoxsmart S DX 7.8F, active fixation right ventricular lead with floating atrial dipole. Through the floating atrial dipole, the Lumax ICD can sense all atrial signals with a specially adjusted atrial input stage for excellent signal quality.
Whereas conventional single-chamber ICD therapy ignores any atrial activity, whether normal or arrhythmic due to the lack of an atrial lead, the Lumax DX system monitors the atrial activity. It senses all atrial signals without any lead contacting the atrial wall and uses the information for diagnostic purposes as well, as for the safe reduction of inappropriate therapies.
Even though patients indicated for single-chamber ICD therapy might at the time of implantation not present with signs of atrial fibrillation, they are at a higher risk of developing atrial rate disorders. By continuously monitoring the atrial heart rate, Lumax 540 VR-T DX recognises the onset and progression of especially asymptomatic atrial fibrillation.
Through Biotronik Home Monitoring physicians can be notified early, enabling the immediate initiation of necessary medication and treatment to avoid stroke and other consequences of AF. Additionally, the continuous monitoring of the atrial heart rate further enables the close surveillance of AF therapies to confirm or adjust the necessary treatment.
Lumax 540 VR-T DX uses the Smart Detection algorithm for the discrimination of supra-ventricular from ventricular tachycardias by directly comparing the atrial and ventricular heart rates. With its proven high specificity, the Smart Detection discrimination algorithm safely reduces the number of inappropriate ICD therapies caused by a misclassification of atrial as ventricular tachycardias. Moreover, Biotronik Home Monitoring provides high resolution online IEGMs, enabling the precise assessment of the appropriateness of all ICD therapies.
Early detection of atrial fibrillation and safe reduction of inappropriate shocks significantly reduce risks in single chamber ICD therapy, providing advanced patient management and unique patient protection.
