Takatsuki General Hospital Performs First Procedure With Stereotaxis Niobe ES Technology in Japan

Stereotaxis, Inc.

, a global leader in innovative technologies for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, announced today that the first procedure with its Niobe® ES magnetic navigation system has been performed in Japan. Dr. Kohei Yamashiro of Takatsuki General Hospital completed a cardiac ablation on a patient with ventricular tachycardia, noting, in particular, the improved navigation of the ablation catheter and ease of mapping with the Niobe system compared to manual methods for lesion creation. "We are excited to be the first institution in Japan to offer this unique, innovative approach to treating complex cardiac arrhythmias, which continue to rise in prevalence at a rapid rate with our aging population," said Dr. Yamashiro. "The Niobe system provides greater visibility and precise control of the ablation catheter, as well as significantly increased safety, which I expect to translate into improved outcomes for my patients." Dr. Yamashiro has more than 10 procedures scheduled for the Niobe system's first two weeks of operation. Takatsuki General Hospital is located near Osaka, Japan and recently underwent a complete renovation to support the latest medical advances and provide higher quality, more integrated patient services. Installation of the Niobe system was completed in the second quarter, as Dr. Yamashiro, its primary operator, received comprehensive training at Stereotaxis sites in the U.S. The hospital held a grand opening lecture on the Niobe system lab July 3, featuring presentations by Dr. Yamashiro and Dr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, a prominent electrophysiologist, who has educated Japanese physicians and government officials on the use of Stereotaxis technologies. "We have envisioned this day for some time and are very pleased to see it come to fruition," said William C. Mills, Stereotaxis' Chief Executive Officer. "Our momentum continues to build in Japan as we set our sights on becoming the region's first choice in the treatment of complex electrophysiology cases."