E

Endosense

Biotech & Life Sciences · Geneva, Switzerland · Founded 2003

Endosense, established in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2003, carved a niche in the medical technology sector by focusing on enhanced treatments for cardiac arrhythmias. The company was founded by Giovanni Leo. The company addressed a critical challenge in catheter ablation procedures: the subjective estimation of force applied by physicians. Applying too much force risked perforating the heart wall, while insufficient force could lead to incomplete lesion formation, resulting in the recurrence of atrial fibrillation and the need for repeat procedures. Endosense pioneered the integration of contact-force measurement into this field. Its flagship product, the TactiCath irrigated ablation catheter, provided physicians with a real-time, objective measure of the force being applied to the heart wall during a procedure. This device, later evolving into the TactiCath Quartz, featured a sophisticated algorithm known as the lesion index (LSI). The LSI correlates lesion formation with radiofrequency power, time, and contact force to give a real-time indication of lesion quality. The TactiCath gained CE mark approval in Europe for treating atrial fibrillation and supraventricular tachycardia in 2012. Following its acquisition, the device secured FDA approval in the United States in 2014. After its initial venture capital financing, Eric Le Royer led the company as President and CEO for seven years, transforming the concept of contact-force sensing into a clinical reality. He was succeeded by Jan Keltjens in September 2011. The company's work culminated in its acquisition by St. Jude Medical in August 2013 for an initial payment of $170 million, with potential for an additional $161 million contingent on regulatory milestones. This move was aimed at capturing a larger share of the then-$900 million global cardiac ablation catheter market. Keywords: catheter ablation, contact force sensing, cardiac arrhythmia, medical device, TactiCath, atrial fibrillation, electrophysiology, medtech, St. Jude Medical, Giovanni Leo