St. Jude’s assessment tool gets nod in Europe

A technology that helps physicians place stents using 3-D vessel reconstruction received CE mark in Europe.

St. Jude Medical’s ILUMIEN OPTIS PCI Optimization System, an assessment tool for treating patients with coronary artery disease, includes stent planning software tools and a platform that integrates fractional flow reserve (FFR) and intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging technologies.

According to the company, the system offers real-time, 3-D reconstruction with a 360-degree view of the vessel. Using the FFR and OCT measurements, physicians can assess plaque buildup. The automated stent planning tools allow real-time analysis, which potentially will streamline workflow and facilitate diagnosis.

“This next-generation system delivers critical information to physicians about the location and severity of disease within the coronary arteries, potentially resulting in better medical decision-making and overall cost-effective treatment,” Frank J. Callaghan, president of the St. Jude Medical Cardiovascular and Ablation Technologies Division, said in a release.