Munich, Germany, September 29, 2005 - TomTec Imaging Systems has just announced the product introduction of its new 4D LV-Analysis software, focused for CRT applications.

CRT is a proven method for treating patients suffering from chronic heart failure (CHF). While around 70 to 80 percent of CHF patients benefit from CRT (responders), 20 to 30 percent do not show any improvements (non-responders). The existing clinical criteria are not sufficient to make a dependable distinction. Recent clinical studies have shown that patients with left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (uncoordinated myocardial contraction) respond to CRT. 4D LV-Analysis is a new diagnostic tool to address these problems and to help clinicians to quantify left ventricular dyssynchrony and identify responders reliably.

TomTec and leading cardiologists developed a new index, the Systolic Dyssynchrony Index (SDI), to assess and quantify mechanical dyssynchrony. In August 2005, the first published peer-reviewed clinical validation study has shown that the SDI not only quantifies left ventricular dyssynchrony but also identifies patients who will benefit from CRT. Newly established dyssynchrony (SDI) cut-off values now allow better patient selection as well as the identification of patients who are currently not considered for CRT but may also benefit.
Since dyssynchrony is a complex three-dimensional phenomenon, TomTecs 4D LV-Analysis software assesses and quantifies it using three-dimensional techniques, based on 3DE data sets and a regional wall motion analysis. 4D LV-Analysis features advanced automatic contour finding algorithms for an easy, fast, accurate and highly reproducible functional analysis of the left ventricle, even for patients that are difficult to image. This ensures doctors can diagnose mechanical dyssynchrony as part of their routine clinical procedure for all CHF patients.

4D LV-Analysis also offers innovative analysis options like 3D Parametric Imaging (3DPI). This simplifies assessing dyssynchrony and allows the exact localization of areas with delayed myocardial contraction.

Rolf Baumann, TomTecs Product Marketing Manager adds, Quantifying dyssynchrony with 4D LV-Analysis software is the first clinically validated method to separate responders from non-responders preoperatively based on 3DE data sets. This will not only lead to improved treatment strategies for patients with CHF but should also reduce the costs by identifying the non-responders before pacemaker implantation.

For more information, go to www.tomtec.de.

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