Chongqing, China - The first patient has recently been enrolled in the clinical study of the renal artery RF ablation system of Shanghai Hongdian Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Hongdian Medical) - a subsidiary of Shanghai MicroPort EP MedTech Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as MicroPort EP) for hypertension treatment.

The procedure was performed by the team of Professor Yin Yuehui of the Department of Cardiology in The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. The patient had taken medications for years but the blood pressure hasn’t been well controlled. Professor Yin Yuehui used Columbus™ 3D EP navigation system (hereinafter referred to as "Columbus™ System”) of MicroPort EP to build a renal artery vascular model first, then looked for a suitable ablation target, and finally performed a precise ablation with the renal artery RF ablation system. The procedure went smoothly, the patient's blood pressure dropped obviously without complications, and the expected effect was achieved.

Hypertension, as one of the most common chronic diseases and the most important risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, may cause complications such as myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, and renal insufficiency. In recent years, the prevalence of hypertension has been on the rise due to factors such as population aging and unhealthy lifestyles. The chronic activation of the renal sympathetic nerve is considered to be one of the key factors for long-term existence of hypertension in its pathogenesis. Percutaneous catheterization of renal denervation (RDN) for treatment of uncontrolled and intractable hypertension is considered to be a new non-drug treatment option, which has the advantages of providing patients with all day blood pressure reduction, being safer and more effective, and resolving poor compliance with medications.

The renal artery RF ablation system independently developed by Hongdian Medical is an innovative product consisting of a renal artery RF ablation catheter and a multi-channel renal artery RF ablation generator. It is a complete set of devices designed for treatment of uncontrolled and intractable hypertension. Featured with excellent maneuverability, uniform saline irrigation and high-strength tip electrode fixation technology, FlashPoint™ Renal Artery RF Ablation Catheter ensures the safety and effectiveness of the product.  The renal artery RF generator has the function of both single-channel and multi-channel discharge, enabling stable and accurate power output and measurement of temperature and impedance. It can be used in combination with Columbus™ system of MicroPort EP to achieve precise positioning for ablation procedures under 3D guidance, reducing the harm of X-rays to the operator and the patient and increasing the success rate of the procedure.

After the procedure, Professor Yin Yuehui said, "When the FlashPoint™ renal artery RF ablation system of Hongdian Medical was used with the Columbus™ system of MicroPort EP, the ablation target could be precisely found and marked on the model during the procedure and the AI algorithm that comes with the renal artery ablation system could assist the operator in classifying and judging the ablation target. Moreover, the renal artery ablation catheter was well manipulated and able to reach the appropriate location of the renal artery. The whole procedure went smoothly, which proved the effectiveness and safety of the renal artery RF ablation system of Hongdian Medical."

In the future, Hongdian Medical will continue to concentrate on sympathetic nerve modulation, focus on the fields of heart, lung and chronic diseases, and strive to build a comprehensive product line for benefiting more patients worldwide.