FDA CLEARS CARDIAC PATHWAYS' MERCATOR ATRIAL CATHETER.Cardiac Pathways Corp. (Nasdaq:CPWY), Sunnyvale, Calif., has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of its 510(k) application to commercially release its Mercator Atrial atrial /atri·al/ (a´tre-al) pertaining to an atrium. a·tri·al adj. Of or relating to an atrium. Atrial Having to do with the upper chambers of the heart. High Density Array Catheter. The Mercator catheter Mercator catheter Cardiology A high-density array catheter used in the right atrium to map and diagnosis complex arrhythmias and assess the effectiveness of ablation treatment. See Ablation therapy. is intended to be used in the right atrium for diagnosing and mapping complex arrhythmias that may be difficult to identify using conventional mapping systems alone. Complex atrial arrhythmias include atrial flutter atrial flutter n. Rapid regular atrial contractions occurring usually at rates between 250 and 400 per minute and often producing saw-tooth waves in an electrocardiogram. Also called auricular flutter. and fibrillation, which are common heart rhythm disturbances that sometimes cause blood clots Blood Clots Definition A blood clot is a thickened mass in the blood formed by tiny substances called platelets. Clots form to stop bleeding, such as at the site of cut. that can lead to strokes. The Mercator catheter is a high density, 64-electrode basket with eight arms designed for rapidly assessing arrhythmias within the right atrium and determining the effectiveness of ablation procedures used to treat the arrhythmia arrhythmia (ārĭth`mēə), disturbance in the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. Various arrhythmias can be symptoms of serious heart disorders; however, they are usually of no medical significance except in the presence of . The Mercator Atrial High Density Array Catheter is used in conjunction with the Cardiac Pathways' Model 8100/8300 Arrhythmia Mapping System to capture and display information about the conduction activity in the right atrium, allowing the physician to determine the source of the arrhythmia as well as the effectiveness of treatment. "Receiving FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. marketing clearance for the Mercator catheter is another milestone in our strategic development of a fully integrated approach for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. We believe the Mercator catheter and the Arrhythmia Mapping System are important diagnostic tools that may potentially lead to minimally invasive treatment for patients with serious heart rhythm disturbances," said William N. Starling starling, any of a group of originally Old World birds that have become distributed worldwide. Starlings were brought to New York in 1890; since then the common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) has spread throughout North America. , president and chief executive officer of Cardiac Pathways. Cardiac Pathways designs, develops and manufactures minimally invasive systems to diagnose and treat cardiac tachyarrhythmias (abnormally rapid heart rhythms). The company is a pioneer and leader in the development of complete, integrated mapping and ablation systems for the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disturbances. For more information, call 408/737-0505. |
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