Royal Philips has announced the first procedure using its real-time 3D intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) catheter. The left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedure was carried out by Mohamad Adnan Alkhouli (Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, USA).
Used with Philips Premium Cardiology Ultrasound System (EPIQ CVx), the real-time 3D Philips Intracardiac Echocardiography Catheter—VeriSight Pro—offers 2D and 3D live image guidance for a wide range of procedures in structural heart disease and electrophysiology. According to Philips, used together, the systems allow interventionalists to navigate procedures with ease, provide superior care, and optimise cath lab performance.
Live ultrasound imaging during structural heart disease and electrophysiology procedures typically relies on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) imaging, in which an ultrasound probe is passed down the patient’s throat and into their oesophagus, until it lies next to the heart. TEE requires the patient to be sedated or given general anaesthesia, lengthening preparation, procedure, and recovery times and carrying a degree of risk.
Philips’ ICE catheter VeriSight Pro uses the same ultrasound technology, miniaturised to fit on the tip of a 1.98mm diameter (9 French) catheter so that it can be navigated to the patient’s heart via their vasculature—the same route used to introduce other catheters during minimally-invasive cardiac surgery. General anaesthesia is typically not required, reducing patient risk, and opening up procedures to patients who are not good anaesthesia candidates.
“Securing the best-possible live images enables interventional cardiologists and electrophysiologists to boost procedure confidence and deliver optimum outcomes for more patients,” said Chris Landon, senior vice president and general manager, Image Guided Therapy Devices at Philips. “The exceptional 2D and 3D imaging capabilities of Philips Intracardiac Echocardiology Catheter—VeriSight Pro—make it a superb choice for image guidance in interventional procedures, reducing reliance on general anaesthesia and the logistical hurdles that go with it.”
For interventional cardiologists, VeriSight Pro delivers an alternative high quality 3D live images to TEE, including 3D Volume and Color Flow imaging. Based on Philips’ xMATRIX 3D ultrasound transducer technology, Verisight Pro can provide a 90 by 90 degree 3D field of view as well as allowing physicians to view two scan planes simultaneously—for example, the long and short axes of the left atrial appendage (LAA) to select the appropriately sized device for LAA closure. VeriSight Pro provides superior 2D ICE imaging, as well as the ability to access new views more easily. Interventionalists can digitally change the scan angle to capture new views without manually repositioning the ultrasound tip, a unique feature of this ICE catheter.
Philips Intracardiac Echocardiology Catheter—VeriSight Pro—is designed to be used with Philips Premium Cardiology Ultrasound System (EPIQ CVx). Philips offers integrated solutions for the treatment of Structural Heart Disease, combining interventional X-ray, 3D ultrasound and related interventional tools that are designed to enable confident navigation and positioning of devices to optimize outcomes while reducing procedure time.
Philips Intracardiac Echocardiology Catheter—VeriSight Pro—is available on a limited basis in the USA.
