Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) yesterday said it’s launching a new line of implantable cardiac defibrillators with new battery technology designed to last nearly 12 years, claiming the title for the longest-lasting ICD.
Marlborough, Mass.-based Boston Scientific dubbed the new ICD versions Dynagen EL and Inogen EL, for "extended longevity," saying it uses Boston’s EnduraLife battery tech designed to double the power capacity of other ICDs. The company claims that the Dynagen EL and Inogen EL devices are projected to last nearly 12 years after implantation.
The EL devices are also up to 11% smaller and 24% thinner than the competition’s, according to a press release.
"Boston Scientific is proud to build upon the world’s most innovative ICD technology with the world’s smallest ICD, the world’s longest-lasting ICD and the world’s only subcutaneous ICD," rhythm management president Joe Fitzgerald said in a statement. "By providing a device with greater battery capacity, physicians are now able to offer patients a longer lasting device and increased peace of mind, while administrators and payors have new options to more effectively manage healthcare costs and minimize unexpected complications.”
Dr. Samir Saba of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, who implanted the 1st EL ICD, said that improved battery life "has a direct impact on patient outcomes and the cost of care."
"The EL ICD is an important advancement that can help minimize the frequency of avoidable replacement procedures to help reduce costs and the potential for replacement-related complications," Saba said in prepared remarks.