ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ), a global medical device company, today announced it will display a number of ground breaking technologies and clinical solutions from the company’s Cardiac Rhythm Management and Atrial Fibrillation Divisions at the 3rd annual Asia-Pacific Heart Rhythm Society Scientific Session (APHRS), which is held in conjunction with the 6th annual Asia-Pacific Atrial Fibrillation Symposium. The new products and virtual reality technology highlight the company’s commitment to providing a comprehensive learning platform alongside the most technologically advanced portfolio of therapies and devices for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.

Commenting on the company’s presence at APHRS, Sang Yi, vice president and general manager of St. Jude Medical Asia-Pacific, said, “St. Jude Medical is pleased to once again be the largest sponsor of the annual APHRS congress to support the advancement of these important, life-saving technologies to patients in the region. We recognize the importance of the Asia Pacific market and continue to invest in it by broadening our product portfolio, establishing a strong presence in the region with new manufacturing and education facilities, and investing in ongoing education to help physicians develop the knowledge and skill needed to enhance patient care.”

Products and technologies will be on display at St. Jude Medical booth S01 and at the St. Jude Medical Technology Suite in the Ocean View Room (Level 5) at the International Convention Center (ICC), Jeju Island in the Republic of Korea. Products will be on display from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28, Friday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Oct. 30. The highlights include:

Introduction of Virtual Reality Simulations

Now available for the first time in the Asia Pacific market, the virtual reality simulator is St. Jude Medical’s latest investment in education and training, and is designed to help enhance patient care. It offers physicians access to advanced cardiac care techniques and best clinical practices using the latest St. Jude Medical technology to simulate procedures, such as implanting a left ventricular (LV) lead or performing a transseptal puncture. From guiding catheters through the vessels, to optimally placing a lead in a human-size model, the simulator allows physicians to become familiar with St. Jude Medical products.

The virtual reality simulation sessions will take place by appointment in the St. Jude Medical Advanced Learning Center booth on Thursday, Oct. 28 and Friday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Saturday, Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to noon.

After APHRS, the simulators will be permanently housed in the newly opened St. Jude Medical Advanced Learning Center Asia Pacific in Beijing, China.

Cardiac Rhythm Management Division

Unify™ CRT-D and Fortify™ ICD: The Unify™ cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) and Fortify™ implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) are a new family of devices that feature advanced battery technology and circuitry that allow for the smallest device footprint in the industry and rapid charge times, without any compromise in device longevity or power. Unify™ and Fortify™ have 45J of stored energy and can deliver 40J, the highest energy of any ICD available today. This high energy capacity gives these devices the ability to provide a greater safety margin, which could increase the chances that therapy will be successful for patients who may need more energy to correct their heart rhythm. The products are approved for use in the U.S., Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong.

Promote Quadra™ CRT-D and Quartet™ left ventricular pacing lead: The Promote Quadra CRT-D is the industry’s first quadripolar pacing system, which offers physicians the ability to more effectively and efficiently manage the ever-changing pacing needs of patients with heart failure. It integrates multiple pacing configurations and features that enable physicians to optimize the system at implant and follow-up, as well as better manage common complications without having to surgically reposition the lead. The Quartet™ left ventricular pacing lead, used as part of the Promote Quadra system, features four pacing electrodes on the left ventricular lead – enabling up to 10 pacing configurations. The products are approved for use in Europe and Hong Kong.

Other products on display include the Current™ Accel ICD and Promote Accel CRT-D, Accent™ Pacemaker and Anthem™ CRT-P, and the Merlin.net™ Patient Care Network (PCN).

Atrial Fibrillation Division

Therapy™ Cool Flex™ Ablation Catheter: The ablation catheter is the industry’s first to have a fully-irrigated and flexible tip, which is indicated to treat abnormal heart rhythms (also called arrhythmias). Compared to catheters with rigid tip design, the Therapy Cool Flex catheter tip has been designed with the intention to conform better to a greater range of cardiac tissue anatomy using various angles of approach. The Therapy Cool Flex is approved for use in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

EnSite Velocity™ Cardiac Mapping System: The next-generation of the industry-leading EnSite^TM System is designed to help physicians more efficiently diagnose abnormal heart rhythms. The EnSite Velocity System creates a three-dimensional (3-D) model of the patient's heart, allowing physicians to visualize their patient's unique anatomy with great detail. Physicians can then quickly locate the source of the arrhythmia and formulate a treatment strategy. The new platform is customizable, providing the flexibility to better integrate current and future technology. The EnSite Velocity is approved for use in the U.S., Europe, Japan, Australia, Korea, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.

EnSite Derexi™ module: The EnSite Derexi provides improved electrophysiology (EP) lab efficiency and workflow by enabling communication between the EnSite Velocity Cardiac Mapping System and the EP-Workmate™ Recording System. The EnSite Derexi module enables procedural data (including relevant images, waveforms and other clinical data) and patient medical history information to be shared between the mapping and recording system to produce a single, synchronized patient record of a procedure. The EnSite Derexi is approved for use in the U.S., Europe, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand.

Other products on display include the EP-Workmate™ Recording System, AFocus II™ Diagnostic Catheter, Agilis NxT™ Steerable Introducer, Therapy™ Cool Path™ Duo Irrigated Ablation Catheter, and the Cool Point™ Irrigation Pump.

For additional information about the products displayed in the St. Jude Medical booth, please visit sjm.com.

About APHRS

APHRS is the first and only society organized in the Asia-Pacific region to promote excellence and advancement in the diagnosis and treatment of the patients with heart rhythm disorders. Its objectives include providing opportunities for exchanging scientific, medical and technological information among its members and with members of other national/international organizations by hosting annual APHRS scientific sessions and other related symposia.

About St. Jude Medical

St. Jude Medical develops medical technology and services that focus on putting more control into the hands of those who treat cardiac, neurological and chronic pain patients worldwide. The company is dedicated to advancing the practice of medicine by reducing risk wherever possible and contributing to successful outcomes for every patient. St. Jude Medical is headquartered in St. Paul, Minn. and has four major focus areas that include: cardiac rhythm management, atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular and neuromodulation. For more information, please visit sjm.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include the expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including potential clinical successes, anticipated regulatory approvals and future product launches, and projected revenues, margins, earnings and market shares. The statements made by the Company are based upon management’s current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include market conditions and other factors beyond the Company’s control and the risk factors and other cautionary statements described in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including those described in the Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements sections of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 3, 2010. The Company does not intend to update these statements and undertakes no duty to any person to provide any such update under any circumstance.