April 12, 2017 — Biotronik announced the European launch of a new lead for tachycardia therapy that features a helical design for increased long-term performance through stress reduction. The Plexa ProMRI lead is made for use with implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) as well as cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds).
“The average person’s heart beats more than 100,000 times a day, so you can imagine that ICD leads undergo a substantial amount of movement and bending with every contraction. For this reason, leads must be able to endure a lot of stress,” said Jan Schmidt, M.D., Clinic for Cardiology, Angiology und Pneumology at the University Hospital in Düsseldorf.
The new Plexa ProMRI lead offers enhanced resilience through a performance-driven helical design that is resistant to bending stress. The helical design concept was introduced to ICD leads by Biotronik in 2013 with the DF4 connector. With the launch of Plexa ProMRI, for the first time the benefits of this design have been brought to the intracardiac region, between the right atrium and ventricle at the tricuspid valve — one of the most demanding areas for ICD leads.
The lead allows patients to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans when used in combination with the relevant MR conditional devices. It is also designed to facilitate handling during implantation with modified accessories that simplify the procedure. Moreover, it supports DX technology for ICDs and now also CRT-Ds, enabling atrial sensing in patients without an atrial lead.
“Taking the low impedance conduction of ICD leads and the high durability of pacemaker leads, Plexa ProMRI combines the best of both worlds to offer an ICD lead that can face high levels of stress in the areas it is needed the most,” said Schmidt, one of the first physicians to implant the Plexa ProMRI lead.
For more information: www.biotronik.com
February 24, 2023 
