Valley View Hospital today announced the launch of the only robotic-assisted coronary angioplasty program in the Rocky Mountain region. The procedure is performed by Frank Laws, M.D., the medical director of VVH’s Heart and Vascular Center using the CorPath System—the first and only FDA 510(k) cleared robotic-assisted technology to aid interventional cardiologists in placing stents and balloons in patients with coronary artery disease. Valley View is the only hospital offering this procedure in Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
“We are excited to offer this innovative technology to treat coronary artery disease,” said Dr. Laws. “The precision and accuracy offered through the enhanced control, visualization and measurement of the CorPath System represent an important advancement in how we perform angioplasties.”
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is characterized by plaque buildup that restricts blood flow in the arteries, is a widespread and life-threatening disease. It is the most common form of heart disease and the leading cause of death in America. Traditionally, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), commonly known as an ‘angioplasty,’ is the most common treatment for CAD. In this procedure, a balloon is used to physically open an artery blockage and help improve blood flow. During an angioplasty, interventional cardiologists often use stents, a wire metal mesh tube, to prop open the artery and keep it open following the procedure. While angioplasty procedures are performed frequently in the United States the procedure has remained largely unchanged for decades.
“Vascular robotics offers physicians and patients with a minimally-invasive technology that may improve the precision of stent and balloon placements as well as reduce radiation of the procedure for physicians,” added Dr. Laws.
The CorPath System allows interventional cardiologists to perform the procedure with robotic precision. Seated in a radiation-protected cock-pit, the physician uses a joystick to robotically advance guide wires, angioplasty balloons and stents to clear the blockage and restore blood flow. Additionally, the technology provides interventional cardiologists with the ability to accurately measure the anatomy and precisely position stents, which may lead to fewer stent implants.
Among the first patients to benefit from the procedure was Jim Bickling of Gypsum, Colo., who was awed by the robotic procedure and impressed by the level of customer service at the hospital, including a post-tour of the cath lab where the procedure was performed. “The entire experience was pretty amazing. It wasn’t painful and it was so quick,” Bickling said. “I was surprised at how small the instruments are and how simple it was to correct a complex issue in my arteries. And, you just can’t beat the whole package offered by this hospital – from the latest technology to service from the cardiologist and other doctors and nurses. We are from out of town with no family in Glenwood but the entire staff treated my wife and me like we were their family.”
Corindus Vascular Robotics, the Waltham, Mass.- based maker of the robotic CorPath Vascular Robotic System, wanted to develop a research partnership with a hospital that offers interventional cardiac procedures. Valley View and its cardiac staff were willing to be one of the first five hospitals around the country participating in ongoing cardiac research with Corindus, making Valley View a very good fit for this technology.
“We are proud to be the first medical center in the Rocky Mountain region to launch a CorPath Vascular Robotic Program,” said Gary Brewer, CEO of Valley View. “The adoption of the CorPath System at Valley View truly emphasizes our continuous commitment to delivering state-of-the-art technology to our patients and clinical community.”
The Heart and Vascular Center at Valley View Hospital supports the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease with three full-time cardiologists, including Dr. Laws. Healthgrades has recognized the Heart and Vascular Center at Valley View for Five-Star Treatment of Heart Attack in both 2013 and 2014 and Five-Star Recipient for Coronary Interventional Procedures in 2014. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 970-384-7290.
About Valley View Hospital
Valley View Hospital is a 78-bed acute care hospital that serves as western Colorado’s premier health care facility. The community-owned hospital consistently ranks among the Top 5% in the nation for outstanding patient care. In addition to recently receiving Outstanding In-Patient Experience and Outstanding Emergency awards from J.D. Power and Associates, the hospital was also recognized by Healthgrades as among just 2 percent in the nation to receive two honors: 2013 Outstanding Patient Experience AwardTM for six consecutive aware years and 2013 Patient Safety Excellence AwardTM, first-time recipient. Healthgrades has also recognized the Heart and Vascular Center at Valley View for Five-Star Treatment of Heart Attack in both 2013 and 2014 and Five-Star Recipient for Coronary Interventional Procedures in 2014. The hospital offers a heart & vascular center and cancer center along with urology and neurosurgical services, advanced pulmonary medicine, orthopedics, inpatient and outpatient services, rehabilitation services, integrated therapies and a youth recovery center. www.vvh.org
About Corindus Vascular Robotics
Corindus Vascular Robotics is the global technology leader in robotic-assisted percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). The company’s FDA-cleared CorPath® 200 System is the first medical device that offers interventional cardiologists PCI procedure control from an interventional cockpit. With the CorPath System, Corindus brings robotic precision to PCI procedures to help optimize clinical outcomes and minimize the costs associated with complications through improper stent placement. Corindus stands behind its technology with a “One Stent Promise,” offering a $1,000 credit to hospitals that use two or more stents per lesion in PCI procedures performed with the CorPath System. For additional information, visit www.corindus.com, and follow @CorindusInc.
