Breakaway players Normally, the industry’s four largest companies have a dominant lead in the market, as well as a dominant presence in the exhibition hall, compared to all others. But this year, two companies broke away from the peloton of aspiring players to present something that could eventually challenge the industry leaders.
Philips introduced its EPD Solutions, an open mapping system that the company acquired last year. This will compete with Biosense Webster’s Carto system, Abbott’s EnSite Precision and Boston Scientific’s Rhythmia. Philips doesn’t really offer any EP or ablation catheters, so I am waiting to see if they develop a full solution, either through new device launches or through acquisition or collaboration.
The other company that deserves mention is Acutus Medical, whose exhibit was busy throughout the convention, with clinicians and technologists hearing about the company’s progress in building a full EP solution on an open platform to address both clinical efficacy and cost aspects of EP.
Back in the game Single-use device reprocessing has come to play a major role in reducing EP procedure costs. In this realm, Stryker Sustainability Solutions announced its FDA clearance to reprocess the single-use ViewFlex diagnostic ultrasound catheter during the conference. This is Stryker’s first new clearance of an EP related catheter since 2013, but it’s a strong sign that Stryker wants to continue to play a role here. (By comparison, reprocessor Innovative Health has received seven clearances in the EP space since the last conference.) Stryker also announced its own introducer sheath.
