St Jude Medical reports positive data for blood pressure device

St Jude Medical has reported data from a one-year clinical trial showing the benefits offered by its EnligHTN Multi-Electrode Renal Denervation System.

Results from the EnligHTN I trial demonstrated that the device was able to deliver a safe, rapid and sustained reduction in blood pressure measurements after 12 months, without creating any significant changes in kidney function.

Renal denervation is a minimally invasive, catheter-based ablation procedure used to treat patients with drug-resistant hypertension, thus helping to minimise the risk of cardiovascular death among these patients.

Early results from this trial showed that the EnligHTN device could help these patients, but the latest findings prove that these benefits can be sustained in the long term.

Frank Callaghan, president of the St Jude Medical cardiovascular and ablation technologies division, said: "We are pleased that the study continues to report a sustained reduction in hypertension, potentially providing a long-term benefit for patients whose lives are impacted by this difficult-to-treat condition."

Earlier this month, the company received European regulatory approval for the Ilumien Optis PCI Optimisation System, a 3D vessel reconstruction tool to aid physicians in stent placement.