BIOTRONIK First Launches Reduced-Sized Edora Pacemakers in Japan
With a Battery Life of up to 14 Years or More, Edora Achieves Smaller Size without Impacting Device Longevity
BIOTRONIK is launching a new series of single- and dual-chamber pacemakers in Japan ahead of its global launch. These devices feature both the company’s ProMRI® and BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring® technology.
“The size reduction achieved with the latest BIOTRONIK pacemakers does not compromise longevity and is more acceptable for the Japanese patient population,” commented Dr. Akihiko Yotsukura, Hokko Memorial Hospital Caress Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. “The devices also come equipped with the MRI AutoDetect feature. Thus these devices are not only ideal for elderly patients but all patients who may require an MRI at some point.”
Edora’s ProMRI functionality is also particularly relevant for Japanese patients, as Japan is the world’s largest MRI market with more MRI scanners per million population than any other country.1 Edora’s single- and dual-chamber pacemakers are currently approved for full-body MRI scans at 1.5 T and 3.0 T scans with an exclusion zone.
The award-winning MRI AutoDetect functionality further improves patient safety. Once activated, the smart function automatically recognizes when the patient is in an MRI environment. It then switches itself to MRI mode, and switches back to normal functionality when MRI fields are no longer detected. This is an improvement over the current situation, in which patients undergoing MRIs visit their cardiologist, who programs the device into MRI mode, temporarily reducing its functionality. Following the scan, the device must be programed back to a non-MRI mode. The length of time this takes can vary after the MRI scan is completed. But with MRI AutoDetect, this window is reduced to only the duration of the scan itself.
“BIOTRONIK has long understood that the Japanese market demands smaller devices with premium feature sets. Therefore the Edora launch was prioritized for Japan,” stated Jeffrey Annis, Managing Director BIOTRONIK Japan. “We expect the addition of these devices to greatly enhance BIOTRONIK’s product portfolio offering not only here in Japan, but globally as well.”
References:
1 OECD Health Statistics 2013 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888932917275.
At BIOTRONIK, patient well-being is our top priority and has been for 60 years. BIOTRONIK is a leading global medical technology company with products and services that save and improve the lives of millions suffering from heart and blood vessel diseases. Driven by a purpose to perfectly match technology with the human body, we are dedicated innovators who develop trusted cardiovascular and endovascular solutions. BIOTRONIK is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and is represented in over 100 countries.