St Jude Medical completes takeover of Nanostim

St Jude Medical has announced the completion of its takeover of Nanostim, a medical technology firm with expertise in the groundbreaking field of leadless pacemakers.

The acquisition adds the world's first and only leadless pacemaker to St Jude Medical's portfolio, marking the culmination of a two-year partnership between the two companies that saw St Jude Medical investing in and collaborating with Nanostim extensively.

Nanostim's leadless pacemaker is delivered using a steerable catheter through the femoral vein and can therefore be implanted directly into the heart via a minimally invasive procedure, eliminating the need to surgically create a pocket for the pacemaker and any vulnerable insulated wires.

It has been granted CE Mark approval and will be launching in select European markets soon.

Dr Eric Fain, president of the St Jude Medical implantable electronic systems division, said: "We look forward to welcoming Nanostim employees to St Jude Medical and to continuing our legacy of transforming the treatment of cardiac rhythm disorders with pioneering technology."

This follows the company's acquisition of catheter ablation specialist Endosense in August 2013.