Medtronic study shows benefits of CRT-D devices

Medtronic has revealed data from a recent study which illustrates the life-saving benefits of its cardiac resynchronisation therapy-defibrillator (CRT-D) devices.

The medical device firm has sponsored the landmark Raft study, which aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of CRT-D treatment among mildly symptomatic heart failure patients.

It was revealed that sufferers treated with Medtronic's CRT-D system experienced a 29 percent reduction in mortality rates when compared to those treated with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and medical therapy, which is the current standard of care.

This represents the first study to demonstrate the benefits for CRT among mildly symptomatic patients, as well as being one of the largest-scale trials of its kind.

Pat Mackin, president of the cardiac rhythm disease management business and senior vice-president at Medtronic, said: "Our goal is to ensure heart failure patients who could benefit from our therapies are able to receive them."

Earlier this month, Medtronic allied with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and the CHDI Foundation on a new joint project that will investigate a new Huntington's disease therapy option.