St Jude Medical receives EU approval for Illumien system

St Jude Medical has been granted European regulatory clearance for its innovative new integrated diagnostic technology system Illumien.

The device is the first and only product combining optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fractional flow reserve (FFR) capabilities to receive CE Mark approval.

It combines the functionality St Jude Medical's PressureWire Aeris wireless FFR interventional tool with its C7-XR OCT diagnostic imaging technology, which is used in vessel visualisation and measurement.

In combining these two systems, Illumien is able to optimise percutaneous coronary intervention processes by ensuring that lesions responsible for ischemia can be identified and precisely measured.

Frank Callaghan, president of St Jude Medical's cardiovascular division, said: "We believe integrating these technologies is key to providing physicians a simplified, streamlined option for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with coronary artery disease."

Last month, the company published data from a new study that showed the benefits of neuromodulation devices such as its Genesis system in treating sufferers of chronic migraines.