News | August 22, 2005

Wireless Heart Failure Communication Technology System Launched

Indianapolis and St. Paul, MN - Guidant Corporation announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of its CONTAK RENEWAL 3 RF cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) for heart failure patients and the ZOOM (R) LATITUDE(TM) programmer.

The RENEWAL 3 RF CRT-D is Guidant's first wandless cardiac resynchronization therapy device. The ZOOM LATITUDE programmer is a next generation programmer designed to interface with devices that include remote monitoring capability, such as the RENEWAL 3 RF, as well as the current global implant base of Guidant devices.

This wireless system is designed to save physicians and patients time during implant and at follow-up, with device interrogations that can be three times faster than Guidant's previous programmer. In addition, Guidant's wireless communication technology removes the programmer wand from the sterile implant field. Guidant plans to introduce these products in the U.S. during the fourth quarter of this year.

"The RENEWAL 3 RF and ZOOM LATITUDE programmer represent a new era in device management. These introductions demonstrate Guidant's ongoing commitment to provide innovative technologies designed to deliver physician convenience and patient benefit," said Fred McCoy, president, Cardiac Rhythm Management, Guidant Corporation. "These approvals are tangible evidence of Guidant's efforts working with the FDA to bring new products to market in a timely fashion."

The RENEWAL 3 RF and ZOOM LATITUDE programmer are the cornerstones of the LATITUDE Patient Management system. The anticipated advantages of this system include speed, convenience and patient care.

  • Speed: By utilizing the ZOOM LATITUDE programmer with the RENEWAL 3 RF CRT-D device, physicians can interrogate devices three times faster than Guidant's previous programmer, which saves time at implant and follow-up.
  • Convenience: Wireless interrogations may make follow-up visits more convenient.
  • Patient Care: Wireless interrogations may make follow-up visits faster and more convenient. The RENEWAL 3 RF CRT-D and ZOOM LATITUDE system are designed to add additional follow-up capability, pending FDA approval.

SOURCE: Guidant Corporation