stj051608
On the homepage
Music
Out There
Nightlife
Fitness
St. Jude says its wires have low problem rate
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
Share on Digg
Minnesota business by the numbers
See Minnesota's top earning companies, CEOs and non-profits
More from Business
St. Jude Medical Inc. said Thursday that data from four studies tracking performance of "Riata"-brand heart-defibrillator wires in thousands of patients show very low rates of serious problems, including fractures and perforations.
Problems with defibrillator leads, or wires that connect the devices to hearts, became a big issue late last year when Medtronic Inc. recalled certain thin-diameter leads because of fracturing problems. Questions later arose about the performance of St. Jude leads amid reports from some centers of rare but serious perforations -- the lead poking holes in a patient's heart.
St. Jude, based in Little Canada, responded with data indicating its Riata leads had a very low rate of perforations. The data released Thursday, and presented at the Heart Rhythm Society's annual conference in San Francisco, further the case, St. Jude said.
"This builds on what we released" and also "validates" that earlier information, said Mark Carlson, chief medical officer and senior vice president of clinical affairs for St. Jude's cardiac rhythm management division.
St. Jude's biggest business includes heart-rhythm devices such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators, or ICDs, which treat people at risk for sudden cardiac death. The company competes with Medtronic and Boston Scientific Corp.
DOW JONES NEWS SERVICE
Recent Business stories
Product Recalls: weight loss and dietary supplements, tree stands, backpack blowers - May 16, 2008
Product Recalls: weight loss and dietary supplements, tree stands, backpack blowers - The following recalls have been announced: More
Blog: Patent Pending
Meanwhile, in Wisconsin....
As you read this blog entry, angel investors and start-ups are flocking to Madison, Wisconsin for the annual Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium and the Mid West Health Care Venture forum.
Comment on this story | Read all 1 comments | Hide reader comments