New PSA Wand From St. Jude Medical Integrates Testing, Programming And Interrogation Of Implantable Cardiac Devices

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ) announced today the global launch of its first integrated pacing system analyzer (PSA) wand. The wand, which attaches to St. Jude Medical programmers, enables clinicians to conduct implantation testing and performance threshold testing, as well as programming and interrogation of pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and emerging indications devices without the need for separate analyzer hardware.

"For the first time, clinicians can streamline the pre-implant and follow-up process with the multiple technologies available in our PSA Wand," said Michael J. Coyle, President of St. Jude Medical's Cardiac Rhythm Management Division. "Clinicians can also better correlate measurements because the PSA Wand and St. Jude Medical devices are engineered to the same specifications."

Designed to emulate St. Jude Medical implantable devices, the PSA Wand can accurately measure the heart's intrinsic P- and R-wave signals, evaluate thresholds and provide lead system analysis, all necessary steps for a successful implant. Because the PSA Wand can also program and interrogate devices, it can increase efficiency by functioning as an analyzer or telemetry wand.

Another advantage offered by the PSA Wand is that it adjusts the signal filter and pulse widths to match the type of device being implanted, including pacemakers and ICDs, saving time and promoting more accurate measurements.

New PSA Wand software increases the ease-of-use with a full graphic touch-screen display that shows atrial and ventricular electrograms simultaneously during the testing procedure. All relevant test measurements, along with customizable implant data, can be printed in a comprehensive summary report for the patient's medical records and physician review.

The PSA Wand is the result of a very thorough look at how cardiac device testing impacts implant procedures. It is engineered to provide comprehensive, accurate measurements in one easy-to-use system.