Physician-presented Data Suggest Multi-disciplinary Convergent Procedure Ablation May Restore Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Patients to Normal Sinus Rhythm

- Physician Presentations at Heart Rhythm 2012 Highlight New 12+ Month Data, with Over 80% in Sinus Rhythm

MORRISVILLE, North Carolina, May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- nContact, Inc., the leading innovator in epicardial ablation devices, today announced that new long-term physician data demonstrated promising clinical outcomes for the multidisciplinary Convergent Procedure in the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), with over 80% of patients remaining in sinus rhythm at a minimum of 12 months follow-up. The data was presented by physicians at Heart Rhythm 2012, the Heart Rhythm Society's 33rd Annual Scientific Sessions, May 9-12 in Boston, MA.

Abstract Presentation: "Combined Epicardial and Endocardial Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: Single Center Experience in 100 Consecutive Patients"

During the oral abstract sessions, a presentation by Kenneth C. Civello, MD, Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center, Baton Rouge, LA, highlighted clinical outcomes from 104 consecutive patients treated with the Convergent Procedure. Of these, 73% suffered with persistent or permanent AF. Results demonstrated that 86% of patients who reached six months follow-up were in sinus rhythm, with 78% in sinus rhythm off anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs). Of the 40 patients who have reached 12 month follow-up, 81% were in sinus rhythm, with 69% in sinus rhythm off AADs.

"The combined endocardial and epicardial approach enabled by the Convergent Procedure allows physicians to more efficiently achieve complete, transmural lesions across the posterior of the heart, which research demonstrates is key to adequately addressing this challenging condition," said Dr. Civello. "We feel this multidisciplinary approach is a viable treatment option for persistent patients and is an essential component of our EP toolbox."

Poster: "Collaboration of Cardiac Surgery and Electrophysiology to Treat Atrial Fibrillation: Convergent Procedure Outcomes from a Single Center"

A poster presented by David M. Gilligan, MD, Levinson Heart Hospital at CJW Medical Center, Richmond, VA, reviewed data from a prospective registry of the first 39 patients to undergo ablation with the Convergent Procedure at the center, 79% of whom suffered with persistent or longstanding persistent AF.  At 12 months post procedure, 96% of patients were in sinus rhythm with nearly 70% in sinus rhythm off AADs.

"We incorporated the Convergent Procedure at our center as a collaboration between surgeons and electrophysiologists, and have seen promising clinical outcomes. Our experience suggests this combined approach may offer a viable treatment option for patients with persistent AF by maintaining sinus rhythm after a single ablation procedure," said Dr. Gilligan.

Poster: "Clinical Outcomes of a new Epicardial/Endocardial Ablation Procedure (Convergent) for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation"

A poster presented by Keith M. Golden, MD, St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN demonstrated positive outcomes on 60 patients undergoing the Convergent Procedure, considering 88% of patients had persistent or longstanding persistent AF. This was a difficult cohort of patients with enlarged left atria, and an average BMI over 35. At an average follow up of 11 months (333 +/- 156 days), 79% of patients were in sinus rhythm.  Notably, this continued to hold true for the 14 patients who reached 18 months follow-up, with 79% remaining in sinus rhythm, all of whom were also off AADs.

The various posters and presentations reaffirmed the ability of the Convergent Procedure to achieve consistent single procedure results across hospital sites. The potential advantage of the Convergent Procedure is that it integrates the best practices of surgeons and electrophysiologists in a single setting, utilizing a minimally invasive, trans-diaphragmatic approach for direct access to the posterior of the left atrium without chest incisions, lung deflation, or cardiac dissections. Developed by physicians and enabled by nContact's epicardial ablation technology, it has been shown to be especially appropriate for AF patients with enlarged atria and persistent or long-standing persistent stages of disease.

nContact's Numeris® Coagulation System with VisiTrax® and EPi-Sense™ Coagulation System technology integrates suction, perfusion and radiofrequency energy to ensure consistent cardiac tissue contact and create visible, continuous lesions on the epicardium of a beating heart. For more information, please visit www.ncontactinc.eu and www.ncontactinc.com.

About nContact, Inc.

nContact, Inc. is the leading innovator in epicardial ablation devices and techniques. Its mission is to transform the underserved arrhythmia market through the advancement of less invasive, more efficacious ablation alternatives for cardiac arrhythmias.

Its lead technologies, the EPi-Sense™ and Numeris® Coagulation System with VisiTrax®, have CE Mark approval in Europe for the coagulation of cardiac tissue for the treatment of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

The Numeris® Coagulation System with VisiTrax® is indicated for endoscopic coagulation of cardiac tissue in the United States. The EPi-Sense™ device is not available in the United States.  nContact was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, U.S.A.

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