Guidant Products - Pacemakers, ICDs & CRTs

   

In this section:

The Guidant Corporation is one of the world's premier designers / developers of products used to treat a variety of cardiovascular irregularities ranging from bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias to atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Some of the cardiovascular medical products Guidant specializes in manufacturing include:

  • Cardiac pacemakers (pacing systems)
  • Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs)
  • Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)

On June 17th, 2005, an FDA classified Guidant pacemaker recall was issued. This latest Guidant recall relates to certain Guidant ICD devices and Guidant CRT devices.

Guidant Pacemakers (Guidant Pacing Systems)

Guidant offer a variety of pacemakers that are designed to help manage issues related to bradycardia, a slower-than-normal heart rate (typically less than 60 beats per minute). Artificial pacemakers, such as those developed by the Guidant Corporation, are intended for use in people who have suffered through severe heart trauma that has rendered their natural pacemakers inactive.

Guidant pacing systems include:

  • Guidant Insignia series: The Guidant Insignia Series pacing systems provide patients with customized adaptive-rate pacing therapy designed to cater to each patient's specific needs.
    • Insignia Plus
    • Insignia Entra
    • Insignia Ultra
  • Guidant Pulsar Max II: The Pulsar Max II pacing system boasts dual-sensor technology, offering advanced pacing therapies and easy-to-use diagnostic tools to ensure that your pacing system is functioning properly.
  • Guidant Discovery II: The Discovery II pacing systems include both single and dual-chamber devices providing permanent pacing applications in the ventricle / atrium of the heart.

Defective Guidant pacemakers have been cause for Guidant issuing recalls in the past; however, not every defective Guidant pacemaker warrants a recall. Medical device manufacturers, like Guidant, base the issuing of a recall on a variety of factors, most important of which is the expected rate-of-failure. Devices shown to have a significantly higher rate-of-failure than expected will typically warrant a recall.

Guidant Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Guidant offer a variety of cardiac resynchronization therapy devices designed to treat people suffering from a condition in which the lower chambers of the heart beat at different rates (ventricular dysynchrony) and heart failure.

Guidant cardiac resynchronization therapy devices include:

  • Guidant CRT-P:
  • Contak Renewal TR: this CRT device treats ventricular dysynchrony by using biventricular electrical stimulation, normalizing patients' heart rhythm.
  • Guidant CRT-D:
  • Contak Renewal 3: this CRT device treats ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF), preventing instances of sudden cardiac arrest in patients being treated for heart failure.
  • Contak Renewal: this CRT device synchronizes ventricular contractions by providing the left and right ventricles of the heart with mild electric stimulation. The device is also capable of treating VT and VF.

Guidant Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

Guidant offer a variety of implantable cardioverter defibrillator devices designed to treat people suffering from abnormally fast heart rates (tachycardia). Guidant ICD devices detect abnormally fast heart rhythms, administering a mild shock (cardioversion) or an extreme shock (when necessary) to restore the heart's beating pattern to a normal rhythm.

Guidant implantable cardioverter defibrillators include:

  • Guidant Vitality Series: The Vitality ICDs are the smallest/thinnest in the world. Perfect for patients who are concerned about the size of the device and their body image, Vitality ICDs can go a long way to improving patient comfort.
    • Vitality 2
    • Vitality AVT
    • Vitality DS/EL
  • Guidant Ventak Prizm 2: The Ventak ICDs are capable of treating patients suffering from tachycardia and bradycardia. Redetection systems embedded within the Ventak ICDs allow for post-therapy evaluations of cardiac rhythm.