Recent study data proves longer battery life of Boston Scientific‘s (NYSE:BSX) implantable cardiac defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators, helping keep patients out of the hospital and reduce risk of infections and complications, the company claimed last week.
Friday at the Heart Rhythm Society’s 34th Annual Scientific Sessions, Natick, Mass.-based Boston Scientific revealed new data from 100,438 patients with the company’s ICDs and CRT-Ds, who were followed in the Latitude Patient Management System.
Latitude data show that batteries of Boston Scientific single-chamber ICDs, dual-chamber ICDs and CRT-Ds last an average of 13.2, 11.5 and 9.2 years, respectively, according to a press release.
"Clinical studies show early device replacement brings an increased risk of infection and complications," cardiac rhythm management president Joe Fitzgerald said in prepared remarks. "A 9-year average projected longevity of our CRT-Ds reflects our commitment to quality and engineering excellence. Our advances in device longevity also help reduce healthcare costs through fewer replacement surgeries due to battery depletion."
Boston Scientific traded barbs with rival Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) during the conference last week, over the latter’s claims of battery longevity of up to 11 years. Boston has a reputation for CRM battery life and has won European Union and FDA approval to market several of its implants as featuring longevity of up to 10 years.
Introduced in 2008, the company’s current devices are "the world’s thinnest ICDs and CRT-Ds, with nearly twice the industry-standard battery capacity," the firm claims. Boston Scientific’s Incepta CRT-D and Energen ICD offer the industry’s longest warranty, up to 10 years for some models, according to a press release.
"While device longevity is vital to customers and patients, we believe reliability is equally important," said CMO Dr. Kenneth Stein said in prepared remarks. "We have paired our long-lasting ICDs and CRT-Ds with the Reliance defibrillator lead, which was designed to address the common issues facing ICD leads. The reliability of the Boston Scientific Endotak Reliance defibrillator lead family is unmatched in the industry."
Boston Scientific boasts "nearly 20 years of proven performance" for its Endotak Reliance family of leads, including a "98.5% survival probability at 10 years, which is better than the 5-year or less survival probability of commonly used competitors’ leads."
The company attributes the reliability of Endotak Reliance to its integrated bipolar design, abrasion-resistant silicone insulation and unique Gore coating.
"The longer we can keep patients out of the hospital the better," added Stein. "The combination of industry-leading device longevity coupled with lead reliability provides a tangible benefit to patients. This is yet another example of our commitment to meaningful innovation and providing solutions that improve patient quality of life."
