Medtronic Can Ignore Atrial Fibrillation No Longer

With the decline in defibrillator implantations, and lack-luster performance of their expensive direct-to-consumer campaign to ignite their defibrillator implantations, it seems Medtronic has finally moved to shore up a glaring hole in its cardiac electrophysiology product line: catheter ablation - especially catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. From the press release regarding their alliance with Biosense Webster:

Biosense Webster, Inc. (a Johnson and Johnson Company) the world leader in cardiac mapping and ablation, and Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT), the world leader in implanted cardiac rhythm devices, today announced plans to collaborate on a clinical trial, educational initiatives and a product development program, all of which are aimed at advancing the care of patients with cardiac arrhythmias, also known as irregular heartbeats.

The initiative was announced today to coincide with the start of Heart Rhythm 2007, the Heart Rhythm Society’s 28th Annual Scientific Sessions, taking place in Denver May 9-12. Heart Rhythm 2007 is the premier medical and scientific conference for electrophysiologists.

Biosense Webster is best known for their three-dimensional electrophysiology mapping system, CARTO XP, which uses magnetic fields to determine ablation catheter locations within the heart during catheter ablation procedures. Their THERMOCOOL abaltion catheter and LASSO mapping catheters also facilitate atrial fibrillation ablation procedures.

With this partnership, Biosense Webster will benefit by increasing their distribution lines and Medtronic gains a much needed foothold in the growing atrial fibrillation ablation business.

-Wes