Biotronik has launched a gold-tipped catheter in Europe that specifically was designed to help treat atrial flutter.
The AlCath Flutter Gold ablation catheter provides excellent electrical conductivity and, thanks to high density braiding and lateral stabilization of the tip, makes it easier to get to treatment site and precisely remove the unwanted tissue, according to the company.
Prof. Thorsten Lewalter, M.D., director of the Isar Heart Center Munich, Medical Center for Cardiology and Internal Intensive Care in Munich, Germany, was the first to use the AlCath Flutter device as part of an international product evaluation conducted in 16 centers throughout Europe and Israel. Physicians rated the stability of AlCath Flutter Gold in various anatomical positions as excellent compared to their standard catheter of choice.
In developing the AlCath Flutter Gold, Biotronik focused on refined control and superior stability while maintaining the core features of previous successful catheter generations.
“The superior control offered by this new ablation catheter provides me with greater precision,” Lewalter said. “While Biotronk's AlCath Gold series has always offered efficiency and safety in various tachycardia treatments, the advanced stability of this new catheter makes it optimal for treating atrial flutter. Now I can ablate with effective contact force, even in the most challenging target sites of the tricuspid isthmus anatomy.”
“BIOTRONIK has been a pioneer in GoldTip ablation therapy, perfecting the technology over the last 10 years,” explained Christoph Böhmer, President International at BIOTRONIK. “Now BIOTRONIK has listened to what EP experts had to say about the challenging aspects of daily clinical practice to create a product that benefits both physician and patient. AlCath Flutter Gold is an important new addition to our electrophysiology portfolio, demonstrating BIOTRONIK’s continued commitment to serving our customers in the rapidly growing field of ablation therapy.”
Biotronik is based in Berlin, Germany, and boasts a global workforce of more than 5,600 employees. Its U.S. headquarters is located in Lake Oswego, Ore.