Stereotaxis adds unique value to the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Our primary goals are to improve the safety and efficacy of procedures for patients, enable new treatment solutions for complex procedures, and deliver enhanced hospital efficiency for simple and complex cases.

The Stereotaxis technology allows physicians to directly control the tip of very soft catheters using safe magnetic fields. This replaces manual technology that requires relatively stiff catheters held from handles far from the catheter tip. Manual catheters are steered by twisting, pulling and pushing them into position. Stereotaxis, on the other hand, offers precise tip control, combined with consistent, stable, and soft tissue contact. Precise, magnetic, computerized control of the catheter tip under physician guidance offers the opportunity to create a better paradigm in arrhythmia therapy. To date, these soft catheters have not been directly attributed as the cause of cardiac perforation in over 2500 ablation procedures worldwide. In comparison, Bunch et al. (J. Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, 2005;16: 1172-9) reported cardiac perforations that required emergent intervention in 2.4% (15/632) of patients undergoing cardiac ablation at the highly experienced Mayo Clinic.

Daily exposure to X-ray radiation combined with the risk of back problems from heavy lead protective clothing are ever present risks. These risks are heightened with treatment of more complex and time- consuming cases. One study of cardiologists found that 53% of them experience back or neck pain problems resulting in a mean of 2.5 days of missed work in a year (Ross et al. Am J. Cardiol 1997). Stereotaxis remote technology has the potential to reduce X-ray exposure and lead protective clothing time to physicians and staff by up to 90% per procedure. Such a reduction could improve both health as well as productivity. Initial clinical trends also indicate that significant reduction in X-ray radiation exposure to patients may be achievable.

The current expansion of interventional EP procedures requires efficient and effective treatment of increasingly complex arrhythmias. Control of manual catheters involves a long learning curve and high manual skills. Stereotaxis believes the use of computer guided catheter control and automation is a more consistent, effective, and precise method of steering catheters and delivering therapy. The Stereotaxis Magnetic Navigation System can incorporate diverse procedural techniques and enable physicians to focus on clinical decision making without the distraction of technical difficulties. The Stereotaxis system has now been reported to be used in all major electrophysiology substrates (see Clinical Publications section)

Particular features about the system that may enable more complex therapy include:

• Integration with market-leading 3-D mapping using the CARTO mapping system (Biosense-Webster, a Johnson and Johnson Company). This provides:
  • real-time catheter tip position enabling computer guided navigation
  • automated targeting and movement of the catheter
  • construction of 3-D maps with a single keystroke (Automapping)
  • ability to return to previously navigated areas with the touch of a button
• Automation of catheter movements for mapping and substrate targeting
• Co-registration of pre-operative images to provide better anatomic information
• Advanced software and hardware tools such as the novel navigation wand technology to enable more intuitive navigation 

Stereotaxis intends to fundamentally improve efficiency within the EP lab. Procedure focused software allows physicians “click and go” simplicity to precisely guide the catheter tip to target locations. Stereotaxis believes that procedural automation can dramatically improve efficiency and standardize procedures. For the first time automated catheter movement allows physicians to generate accurate reconstructions of cardiac anatomy with a single press of a button. Stereotaxis will continue its focus on automation to deliver solutions that further enhance EP procedures.