Transcription of The Stock Network Interview with EBR Systems (ASX:EBR), Director of Electrophysiology Lab and Cardiac Device program Dr Anne Kroman
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 WISE, the company continues to refine the physician experience with procedural innovations, including the optional coupler accessory developed to support electrode implantation.
I’m joined today by Dr. Anne Croman, the Director of Electrophysiology Lab and Cardiac Device Program at the Medical University of South Carolina to discuss where the coupler fits within the WISE implant procedure, its role during electrode implantation and how procedural tools can support physician confidence as more centers adopt the technology.
Anne, welcome to the Stock Network.
Anne Kroman: Thanks so much for having me.
Lel Smits: Pleasure to have you on. And look, from a physician’s perspective, can you outline where the coupler fits with the WISE implant workflow and also what role really does it play during electrode implantation?
Anne Kroman: Absolutely. So as we have kind of continued to develop and expand the WISE procedure and are starting to see the incredible growth in application in this procedure to a wider variety of patients, also starting to refine the actual hands-on portion.
And the coupler really is a key component of that. It sort of helps with stabilizing the delivery system and delivery of the electrode itself to kind of make a easier, seamless and a more consistent delivery of the electrode for a better overall procedure and a better overall procedure experience.
Lel Smits: And Anne, why are things like stability and control and really that slow, steady electrode advancement just so important during this stage of the procedure? Also, if you can outline how the coupler helps support that process.
Anne Kroman: Absolutely. So when we are delivering the electrode, we want to be delivering that tiny little grain of rice-sized pellet into the myocardium or the heart muscle of the left ventricle, so the main pumping chamber, usually coming from an approach where we’re crossing over the right atrium into the left atrium and down. And again, anytime you’re working in a beating heart type of situation, we want to be both precise and steady.
The coupler really helps to keep all the components of the device implant together and fixed as we want them, allow us to find that exact precise position that will help most benefit the patient and work the best, and then to, in one steady, slow motion, deliver that pellet exactly where we want it to be.
Lel Smits: Excellent. And as we’re seeing more physicians and centers begin performing WISE procedures, how do you think the procedural tools such as the coupler really support consistency and also give that physician confidence and broader adoption?
Anne Kroman: Absolutely. So as the procedure is going to be adopted by more and more physicians out there in the community, and this technology will reach more and more patients, part of the way that these procedures grow and help to increase adoption is, again, to make that actual delivery of the product or make the physician’s experience easier, more seamless, less moving parts that you have to watch and keep your hands on and keep control of. And that kind of helps in the actual physical implant procedure, gives kind of a nicer, nicer experience from the physician implanter. And it also helps to kind of ensure a level of safety and a level of consistency, which are two very kind of critical things when we want to think about doing this type of cardiac procedures.
Lel Smits: And we really appreciate your insights. Thank you for your very personal and professional perspective about how the coupler fits in within the WISE implant procedure.
Anne Kroman: Absolutely. So glad to be here and thank you for having me.
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