Imricor Medical Systems (ASX: IMR) today announced the launch of Imricor Cardiovascular, a new vertical that expands the interventional MR (iMR) market for Imricor alongside its electrophysiology and ablation business.
Following recent FDA clearances for NorthStar and the Vision-MR diagnostic catheter, Imricor Cardiovascular gives U.S. hospitals an opportunity to establish early leadership in radiation-free cardiac catheterization by performing these procedures in an iMR lab that utilizes magnetic resonance (MR), the company said in a news release.
Imricor Medical Systems was founded in 2006 by a former GE Healthcare MRI design engineer. The company says it makes cardiac ablation catheters that are safe and effective to use inside an active MRI field.
For patients, the value of Imricor Cardiovascular is especially evident in congenital and pediatric heart care, where children with complex heart conditions face repeated procedures over many years, the company said in a news release. Congenital heart disease patients often need repeat catheterizations across childhood, raising the concern of cumulative radiation exposure.
The possibility of MR-guided cardiac catheterization without exposure to ionizing radiation can make a meaningful difference in children’s lives and long-term health, according to Imricor. In these cases, being able to answer key clinical questions in a single procedure can result in fewer anesthetics, less disruption for families and more efficient use of hospital resources, while providing physicians with more detailed anatomical, tissue and functional information during the procedure, the company said in a news release.
“With Imricor Cardiovascular, hospitals can pioneer radiation-free cardiac care, safeguard vulnerable patients, and arm care teams with MR imaging. By doing this can also put their programs at the leading edge of iMR-guided catheterization in the United States,” Greg Englehardt, Imricor’s VP of global sales, said in a statement.
“This launch marks an important step forward for both patients and hospitals. We believe better imaging has the power to change how cardiac procedures are performed, and it is especially meaningful to see this change begin with children who can benefit from fewer separate sessions and the elimination of radiation,” Imricor’s CEO, Steve Wedan, said in a statement.
Imricor completed its first human iCMR procedure in 2011, and has agreements with Philips, Siemens and GE Healthcare to integrate its technology into their MRI hardware. Imricor received FDA 510(k) clearance for adult use of its NorthStar Mapping System and Vision-MR Diagnostic Catheter in January of this year, with a pediatric expansion for both products approved last month.
