St. Jude’s Safire BLU and Therapy Cool Path Ablation Catheters Win U.S. Clearance

Two new irrigated ablation catheters from St. Jude Medical have received FDA approvals for use in cardiac electrophysiology procedures. Safire BLU and Therapy Cool Path catheters both feature bi-directional deflection providing cardiologists with more control during tip placement.
From the announcement:

The Safire BLU and Therapy Cool Path irrigated ablation catheters feature a bi-directional deflection capability that provides enhanced maneuverability, which allows physicians to reach challenging anatomic locations. The bi-directional steering turns up to 180 degrees in both directions to allow physicians to better position the tip of the catheter during ablation procedures. This flexibility promotes efficiency and was designed to provide electrophysiologists with increased control over their delivery of ablation therapy.
The bi-directional steering in these catheters is complemented by a shaft that is designed to more efficiently transmit torque (or turning force) from the steering handle to the catheter tip. This improved capability enables the physician to position the catheter with greater precision.
The handles of the Safire BLU and Cool Path catheters were designed to be ergonomically appealing and provide physician comfort for both routine and complex ablation procedures. Physicians have the flexibility to choose the handle style that they prefer – the ComfortGrip(TM) for the Safire BLU catheter or push/pull style handle for the Therapy Cool Path catheter.

Press release: St. Jude Medical Receives FDA Approval for New Bi-Directional Ablation Catheters…
Product pages: Safire BLU Ablation Catheter; Therapy Cool Path Irrigated Ablation Catheter…