St Jude Medical, a medical device company, has launched Promote Quadra cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) in Europe. The company claimed that the Promote Quadra CRT-D is the industry’s first quadripolar pacing system, which offers physicians the ability to manage the ever-changing pacing needs of patients with heart failure.

St Jude Medical said that the CRT-D integrates multiple pacing configurations and features that enable physicians to optimise the system at implant and follow-up, as well as better manage common complications without having to surgically reposition the lead.

The Quartet left ventricular pacing lead, used as part of the Promote Quadra system, features four pacing electrodes on the left ventricular lead enabling up to 10 pacing configurations. Multiple pacing configurations allow the physician to implant the lead in the stable position, while still being able to select the optimal pacing location. Having multiple pacing electrodes also provides physicians more options to optimise CRT performance, such as pacing around scar tissue in the heart, and avoiding common pacing complications.

The Promote Quadra CRT-D and Quartet pacing lead have both received European CE Mark approval, and are also currently under an investigational device exemption (IDE) trial for FDA approval.

Eric Fain, president of the cardiac rhythm management division at St Jude Medical, said: “The launch of our Promote Quadra system means that physicians no longer need to make a trade-off between positioning the lead in the most stable location and positioning the electrodes in the best pacing location. It also gives physicians more control over patient therapy by providing the flexibility to non-invasively adjust the pacing location or configuration to meet patient needs.

“This launch of the industry’s first quadripolar pacing system is representative of our strong pipeline of technologies that address the most important clinical needs of patients with heart failure.”