Transcription of The Stock Network Interview with EBR Systems (ASX:EBR), Senior Director of Research & Development Mark Hirotsuka
Lel Smits: EBR Systems is advancing cardiac resynchronization therapy with the world’s only leadless pacing technology designed for heart failure patients. The company’s WISE CRT system delivers wireless pacing directly inside the heart, offering an alternative to conventional systems that rely on pacing leads. As EBR expands commercial adoption of the WISE CRT system, the company continues to refine the implant procedure through innovations such as the optional WISE coupler developed to support electrode implantation.
I’m joined today by Mark Hiratsuka, Senior Director of Research and Development at EBR Systems to discuss why the coupler was developed, what the coupler is, and also how user feedback has helped shape the rollout as adoption of the WISE CRT system expands. Mark, welcome to the Stock Network.
Mark Hirotsuka: Yeah, thanks for having me.
Lel Smits: Pleasure. Now, Mark, can you outline why was the coupler developed?
Mark Hirotsuka: Right, so the coupler was developed to support electrode implantation and to provide some context around the devices. The delivery system consists of two main catheters.
We have a delivery sheath and we have an electrode catheter that contains the pre-assembled electrode implant. And to do the implantation, the physician grasps or holds both catheter handles to both position and maintain the position of the catheters. And so what we’ve heard from the field and what we’ve also observed that there are two main areas of the electrode implantation procedure that could be improved or made easier.
And that first area was advancing the electrode catheter in small increments to anchor the electrode while maintaining the position of the delivery sheath. And the second area was bracing and maintaining the positions of both catheter handles to detach the electrode. And so, as you can imagine, there’s a certain level of skill and attention that’s required to do that.
Lel Smits: Absolutely. And I mean, that’s a really great outline of why. In terms of what, can you go into more detail for us, perhaps, what exactly is the WISE coupler?
Mark Hirotsuka: YRight. So the coupler is an optional accessory and it’s intended to aid in the positioning and stabilization of the delivery system during the electrode implantation procedure. And so essentially what that means is the coupler joins the two catheter handles into a single unit. And so once they’re joined, the coupler can be used to advance the electrode catheter and maintain its position by simply rotating a knob.
And also the coupler will maintain the relative positions of both catheter handles during electrode detachment. And so the result is a simpler and easier procedure. Excellent.
Lel Smits: And finally, Mark, can you really outline for us how user feedback has helped shape the way the coupler is being really introduced into the field?
Mark Hirotsuka: Absolutely. So the vast majority of the feedback has been very positive. The physicians prefer using the coupler and they’ve ranked the overall workflow as either easy or very easy.
And so far, our full US launch is going very well. The feedback has been positive, which is also consistent with the positive feedback that we received during the initial controlled release.
Lel Smits: Mark, thank you so much for the insights on EBR systems.
Mark Hirotsuka: You’re welcome.
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