July 10, 2014 — Biotronik announced that the first device patients to undergo full-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in the United States have been implanted with the Biotronik DX System. The first investigational scan occurred Monday, July 7, 2014 at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, Pa.
The Biotronik DX implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) system is the first and only defibrillator system to provide physicians with the complete diagnostic capabilities of a dual-chamber ICD, including atrial sensing and advanced proven shock reduction algorithms, with only a single lead. Biotronik introduced DX technology to the United States in 2013.
“In most cases, it’s difficult for electrophysiologists to accurately predict whether their patients will require diagnostic procedures like MRI in the future,” said Rafael E. Pena, FACC, The Arrhythmia Institute, Newtown, Pa., who performed the ICD implant on the first patient to undergo a full-body MRI scan at St. Mary Medical Center. “Implanting ICDs with the option for MRI allows me to expand their access to this technology when they need it.”
“Frequently, patients with defibrillators need diagnostic imaging with MRI, and until now the safety of MRI imaging in those patients was questioned,” said Thomas Crawford, M.D., assistant professor, University of Michigan Health System, and a principal investigator of the ProMRI study. “MRI conditional defibrillators are a major advance in cardiac devices.”
The Biotronik ProMRI study consists of a series of groundbreaking MRI compatibility trials. Phase A resulted in U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Entovis pacemaker systems for MRI scans with an exclusion zone. Phase B expanded the trial for pacemakers with full-body scans, including cardiac and thoracic spinal scans, and is nearing completion. Now, Phase C incorporates Iforia ICD systems into the list of devices being investigated for full-body MRI scans, including the DX system.
These first U.S. ICD patients receiving full-body scans are among several hundred who are already included in the ongoing study. The FDA approved the ProMRI study expansion to full-body scans for Iforia ICD and DX device systems on May 21, 2014.
Until recently, patients with a pacemaker or ICD were denied MRI scans. The strong forces applied during an MRI scan could negatively affect both implanted device and patient, usually contraindicating MRIs for pacemaker and ICD patients. With its ProMRI technology, Biotronik has developed a solution to give all cardiac rhythm patients access to MRI scanning. Investigational full-body scans for DX systems are the next step in expanding U.S. patient access to MRIs.
The Biotronik -sponsored trial (NCT01761162) has been in U.S. subject recruitment since March 2013.
For more information: www.biotronik.com