BIOTRONIK Announces Acceptance of REPLACE Registry Presentation as Part of Late-Breaking Clinical Science Session at American Heart Association

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - BIOTRONIK, Inc. announced today that Jeanne Poole, MD will be presenting data from the second group of patients - patients receiving a device upgrade - at the Late-Breaking Clinical Science session of the American Heart Association (AHA) 2009 Scientific Sessions.

Dr. Poole will be presenting these important results on November 15 at 5:52 P.M. in the W. Chapin Theater in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Understanding the quantified risks of upgrading pacemakers to ICDs or heart failure therapy devices will help physicians make informed decisions on how to best meet the clinical need of the patient.

The results from the first group of patients in the REPLACE Registry, sponsored by BIOTRONIK, Inc. were presented at the Late-Breaking Clinical Trials session at the Heart Rhythm Society annual Scientific Sessions earlier this year. The REPLACE Registry included devices from all CRM manufacturers.

"The REPLACE Registry is the first multicenter prospective study to collect complication rates in a large number of patients undergoing pacemaker or ICD generator replacement when combined with a planned lead addition or revision," stated Dr. Jeanne Poole, M.D., Director of Electrophysiology, University of Washington, and the national Principal Investigator of the REPLACE Registry.

In addition to the new information on device upgrades, data will be presented November 16 at AHA comparing the complication rates at different types of institutions and how co-morbidity factors influence complications during device replacement. Infection rate data was presented at the Infectious Diseases Society of America meeting on October 30. Visit www.biotronik.com for more information.

As one of the world's leading cardiovascular medical device companies, with several million implanted devices, BIOTRONIK is represented in over 100 countries with its global workforce of more than 4,500 employees. Known for having its finger on the pulse of the medical community, BIOTRONIK assesses the challenges physicians face, and provides the best solutions for all phases of patient care, ranging from diagnosis to treatment to patient management. Quality, innovation and reliability define BIOTRONIK and its growing success, and deliver confidence and peace of mind to physicians and their patients worldwide.

BIOTRONIK, Inc.
Jay Pasquantonio, 503-675-2168
jay.pasquantonio@biotronik.com