Medilec Ltd

Developing fractionation – the new wave in cardiac electrophysiology

An electronic medical device, including operating and data analysis software, is being developed by Medilec Ltd to more accurately predict the level of risk of a patient to sudden cardiac death (SCD), a major cause of death in the Western World. Diseases which modify heart muscle (‘myocardium’) carry an increased risk of SCD. The condition is sometimes called Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS).

Paced electrogram fractionation analysis (PEFA) is a novel, invasive, electrophysiological technique which improves risk prediction significantly, as is evidenced by a large body of published work. It has the potential to reduce ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) costs which currently run into £billions by more accurately targeting those who would benefit from ICD implantation, and with the potential to save patients currently ruled out by less accurate methods of risk stratification.

Medilec’s PEFA process has been clinically trialed in one disease, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and studied in over 600 patients with a variety of diseases, including 76 patients who have survived a VF arrest from which they were resuscitated. PEFA may improve significantly on the predictive accuracy of currently available techniques. Hence the adoption of this technique would better target those who should receive ICD’s – leading to the saving of more lives and the reduction of costs and medical consequences for patients who would otherwise have inappropriate ICD implantations.

Medilec Ltd has been formed with the original inventor of fractionation, Dr Richard Saumarez, to complete product development and to commercially exploit the PEFA technology. Further commercial partners are sought in order to help bring the fractionation technique and technology to market. Target markets include the cardiovascular, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy; arrhythmia; ventricular fibrillation & post-coronary patient fields – particularly in relation to ICD applications.

Medilec’s Managing Group comprises: Mr Robert Dixon (Chairman: ex Hollister Europe, Coloplast A/S, Vickers Medical and Johnson & Johnson); Dr Richard Saumarez (Clinical Director: ex St George’s Hospital Medical School, Papworth Hospital NHS Trust & Cambridge University l ); and Dr Keith Barfoot (Director: Staplethorne Ltd, ex GEC Research).

More detailed information is available here. For enquiries, please contact:

Medilec Ltd

2 Devonshire Court, Heathpark

Honiton, Devon, EX14 1SB, UK

Tel: +44 (0)1404 42455

Fax: +44 (0)1404 41455

Email: medical@staplethorne.co.uk