Boston Scientific Corporation announced that it has developed a sterile, single use steerable diagnostic electrophysiology catheter used to record intracardiac electrical potentials. The product is available in the US and the company is planing for an European launch in the third quarter of 2009.
Blazer DX 20 is also used to deliver pacing stimuli from an external source. It is a bi-directionally steerable diagnostic catheter built on a modified SteeroCath Dx shaft platform with a molded handle. It has one tip electrode and up to 19 ring electrodes for a total of 20. The ring spacing configurations vary with each model. The Blazer Dx-20 Catheters use a thumb-actuated bidirectional steering mechanism, contained within an ergonomically shaped cylindrical handle. A thumb-level motion of the piston actuates the steering of the distal tip. The catheter is placed into the heart and is guided to location by steering the distal tip area of the catheter. Tip and ring electrodes come into contact with the endocardium where electrical contact is made and pacing and recording of electrograms becomes possible. No new technology or circuitry is associated with the transmission of electrical signals to or from the endocardium – the Blazer Dx-20 Catheter relies on platinum-iridium alloy, ring electrodes whose circuitry is identical to standard electrode and pacing catheters.