V-V Timing Feature Approved for Medtronic InSync Sentry, Maximo

Medtronic announced it received approval by the FDA to add sequential biventricular pacing -- or ventricle-to-ventricle (V-V) timing -- to its InSync Sentry and InSync Maximo cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators.

V-V timing allows physicians to separately adjust the timing of electrical therapy delivered to the heart-failure patient's two ventricles, which can optimize the beating of the heart and enhance the flow of blood throughout the body.

Starting in the next two weeks, shipped InSync Sentry and InSync Maximo devices will include V-V timing. In addition, special software will be released to allow patients who already have a previous model of these devices to benefit from the feature through a simple, in-clinic software programming change. In addition, FDA approved a labeling modification for InSync Sentry and InSync Maximo systems to include use for heart-failure patients who have prolonged QRS duration.