Royal Philips, the parent of Philips Healthcare, has formed a distribution agreement with device manufacturer Medtronic for Philips' cardiac imaging and navigation system, Kodex-EPD.
Under the terms of the deal, Medtronic will help Philips bring to market its Kodex-EPD cardiac imaging and navigation system with cryoablation-specific features. Kodex-EPD provides real-time 3D imaging, allowing electrophysiologists to perform cryoablation procedures with reduced need for x-ray imaging, Philips said. For pulmonary vein isolation, the system confirms the position of Medtronic's Achieve mapping catheter.
Kodex-EPD has the CE Mark and has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for mapping and navigation during arrhythmia ablation procedures. Philips expects it to be available in the U.S. and Europe for cryoablation in the fourth quarter of this year.
In other Philips news, at its May 9 annual general meeting of shareholders, the company reappointed Frans van Houten as president and CEO, and Abhijit Bhattacharya as chief financial officer (CFO).
