Philips has launched the VeriSight Pro 3D intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) catheter on the European market.

Able to integrate with Philips’ EPIQ ultrasound systems, which in turn work with its Azurion image-guided therapy platform, Philips said VeriSight complements its existing structural heart disease ecosystem in Europe.

The Dutch healthtech giant added that alongside tools such as EchoNavigator, VeriSight’s introduction in Europe means it can now offer an end-to-end solution for clinicians performing procedures such as tricuspid and mitral valve repair and replacement, atrial septal defect closure, and left atrial appendage occlusion.

Comprised of a miniaturised ultrasound probe embedded at the tip of a thin, steerable catheter, VeriSight provides physicians with real-time 3D and 2D imaging directly inside the heart, with the catheter intended to help physicians perform procedures with “greater clarity”.

The catheter also features xPlane and iRotate technologies, allowing physicians to visualise two imaging planes simultaneously and digitally adjust views without physically repositioning the catheter tip, thereby enabling more precise imaging assessment with fewer deployment steps, Philips said.

According to Philips, with introduction via the femoral vein, VeriSight also reduces the need for general anaesthesia and recovery time in post-anaesthesia care units (PACU), which can shorten hospital stays and reduce costs.

VeriSight received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2020 ahead of an initially limited market launch in the country in 2021. The first procedure completed with the catheter in the US occurred in July 2021.

Stacy Beske, business leader of image-guided therapy devices at Philips, called VeriSight’s Europe launch an “important milestone” that would help more patients benefit from image-guided, minimally invasive heart procedures, while supporting care teams with integrated solutions that “adapt to the way they work”.

Beske adds: “VeriSight Pro reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering clinically relevant innovations that enhance precision, reduce procedure complexity, and improve the care experience.”

Research by the European Commission (EC) indicates that structural heart disease (SHD) is a significant healthcare burden in Europe and is projected to rise from 14 million people with SHDs in 2020 to exceed 20 million by 2040, mostly due to the ageing population.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures for treating SHD represent a significant growth area in the SHD treatment landscape. According to GlobalData analysis, the global TAVR market is forecast to reach a valuation of around $13.7bn by 2033, up from $6.16bn in 2023.