Natick, Mass. - Corindus Vascular Robotics, a leading developer of precision vascular robotics, today announced FDA 510(k) clearance has been granted for the CorPath 200 System to be used in PCI procedures. The technology is now approved in the United States to assist interventional cardiologists in performing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), a procedure to restore blood flow to blocked arteries in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
"We are pleased to have received clearance from the FDA for the world's first system designed for robotic-assisted PCI procedures," said David M. Handler, President and CEO of Corindus Vascular Robotics "This is an important milestone for interventional cardiology as we take the next step in transforming the way these procedures are performed in the future. The CorPath System offers hospitals the opportunity to bring robotic-assisted technology benefits to their coronary patients and their physicians."
"The FDA clearance of the CorPath System will truly change the way I am able to practice. As interventional cardiologists, we perform our procedures using X-ray guidance and are cognizant that throughout our careers we will be exposed to a high amount of radiation. In the past, we have relied on heavy lead aprons to protect us from radiation, but the physical stress of wearing these aprons can lead to back pain, fatigue and orthopedic injuries," said Joseph P. Carrozza, Jr. M.D., Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston. "Robot-assisted PCI procedures allow us to provide our patients with the highest quality of care working in an ergonomic position with robotic-assisted stent and balloon placements to restore blood flow."
Recent data published in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Intervention journal demonstrated an interventional cardiologist's daily exposure to radiation and the physical stresses inherent in the cath lab can lead to occupational health risks-including orthopedic problems, cataracts, and cancer. CorPath PRECISE Trial-a prospective, single-arm, multi-center, study, which served as the basis for the submission of a pre-market clearance (510(k)) application to the FDA- demonstrated that robotically-assisted PCI is safe and feasible for patients. PCI was successfully completed without having to convert to manual PCI in 98.8 percent of patients and without device-related complications. The overall procedure success rate was 97.6 percent. Additionally, the trial found that robotic-assisted PCI can make the procedure safer for the interventional cardiologist by reducing the radiation exposure by 95 percent when performing the procedure with the CorPath 200 System.
