Data Shows Improved Outcomes for Patients With St. Jude Medical Quadripolar CRT-P System

ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

St. Jude Medical, Inc. STJ, a global medical device company, today announced the presentation of important data supporting the first and only quadripolar cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker (CRT-P) system in the U.S., during the Heart Rhythm Society's (HRS) 36th annual scientific sessions. The Allure Quadra™ CRT-P system, with the Quartet™ Quadripolar LV Lead is associated with a 63 percent reduction in the need to replace the lead or deactivate CRT following implant.

Quadripolar LV pacing using SJM quadripolar CRT-Ds (defibrillators) or CRT-Ps and an SJM quadripolar lead provides physicians with multiple pacing options to avoid phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS) and allow for optimal treatment delivery without the need to replace or deactivate the therapy. An analysis evaluating more than 3,000 patients implanted with a CRT-P (1,325 with a quadripolar lead vs. 1,930 with a bipolar lead) looked at whether the known decreased need to replace or deactivate LV leads associated with SJM quadripolar CRT-Ds (defibrillators) and the Quartet LV lead also extends to St. Jude Medical quadripolar CRT-Ps.

The retrospective data analysis was presented in a session titled Quadripolar Leads are Associated with Fewer LV Lead Replacements and Deactivations in CRT-P Patients by Dr. Mintu P. Turakhia, who led the investigation. The data show that patients with the Quartet LV lead were 63 percent less likely to undergo lead replacement or deactivation of CRT compared to the patients with bipolar leads.

"There is a strong body of evidence indicating that quadripolar resynchronization leads are associated with fewer complications and better outcomes when used with implantable defibrillators," said presenting author Mintu Turakhia MD, cardiac electrophysiologist and assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University. "However, we didn't know whether these benefits extended to pacemakers. The current study showed that even in cardiac resynchronization pacemakers, the quadripolar lead was associated with fewer complications in the first three months."

CRT resynchronizes the beating of the heart's lower chambers (ventricles), which often beat out of sync in heart failure patients. Studies have shown that CRT can improve the quality of life for many patients with heart failure, a progressive condition in which the heart weakens and loses its ability to pump an adequate supply of blood. Approximately 23 million people worldwide are afflicted with congestive heart failure and 2 million new cases are diagnosed each year worldwide.

The St. Jude Medical HF management portfolio includes a suite of solutions aligned to meet the demands of health care environments. It is our vision to transform the treatment of expensive epidemic disease by creating cost-effective medical technologies that save lives and improve patients' outcomes.

For more information visit SJMquadripolar.com.

About St. Jude Medical's Heart Failure Business

Approximately 26 million people worldwide suffer from heart failure. St. Jude Medical collaborates with heart failure specialists, clinicians and advocacy partners to provide innovative, cost-effective solutions for heart failure patients around the world. For more information about St. Jude Medical's focus on heart failure, visit the St. Jude Medical Heart Failure Media Kit.

About St. Jude Medical

St. Jude Medical is a global medical device manufacturer dedicated to transforming the treatment of some of the world's most expensive epidemic diseases. The company does this by developing cost-effective medical technologies that save and improve lives of patients around the world. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., St. Jude Medical has four major clinical focus areas that include cardiac rhythm management, atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular and neuromodulation. For more information, please visit sjm.com or follow us on Twitter @SJM_Media.

Forward-Looking Statements

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