Ascent Healthcare Solutions, a leader in the medical device industry, promoting sustainable solutions to device procurement, has received the industry's first 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reprocess the LASSO® 2515 Variable Circular Mapping Catheter manufactured by Biosense Webster. With this new clearance, Ascent continues to increase its portfolio of EP catheters to offer EP cath labs the ability to most effectively manage their resources while ensuring that clinicians have access to their preferred device to most effectively diagnose arrhythmias.

The average price for these reprocessed circular mapping catheters is $700; a savings of 53-58 percent, compared with the national average cost of $1500-$1650 when these devices are purchased directly from the original manufacturer. Ascent's focus on providing reprocessing and remanufacturing services for a wide range of high-cost, high-volume devices enables its hospital partners to reallocate its savings to staffing, services and technology that improve patient care. Hospitals using Ascent's services also help protect the environment through reprocessing, recycling and material reclamation.

According to Ascent COO Rick Ferreira, "Electrophysiology devices continue to evolve and improve and Ascent is keeping pace by leveraging its engineering and scientific expertise to ensure that EP cath labs can maximize their resources by utilizing the industry's most comprehensive reprocessing and remanufacturing program. Many EP cath labs rely on the savings generated through reprocessing to provide safe, high-quality care to patients with irregular heart rhythms."

The Biosense Webster LASSO 2515 Variable Circular Mapping Catheter has been designed to facilitate electrophysiological mapping of the atria of the heart and is deployed in the right or left atrium. The catheter features a variable loop that easily adjusts to any vein sized between 25 and 15 mm. Its adjustable tip provides efficient mapping and is also deflectable for maximum movement. It is available in 10 and 20-electrode configurations. These devices will be the first line of reprocessed diagnostic EP catheters to be packaged in Ascent's thermoformed tray, which has a superior packaging design that provides even greater protection to these catheters with complex curves during transit and storage.

ABOUT ASCENT HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS

By continuously pioneering sustainability initiatives in healthcare, Ascent Healthcare Solutions has become a leader in the medical device industry. Ascent's programs target inefficient practices to reclaim and redirect consumable and financial resources to promote healthy and responsible hospitals. Today, Ascent's medical device sustainability programs deliver reprocessed and/or re-manufactured medical devices as well as comprehensive recycling and redistribution initiatives. Ascent has been recognized as a "Champion for Change" by Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (now Practice Greenhealth) in recognition of the dramatic environmental benefits its reprocessing programs provide to U.S. hospitals and surgery centers. Ascent's 1,700 hospital partners include most of the U.S. News and World Report "Honor Roll" hospitals. The company has agreements with all leading national group purchasing organizations as well as numerous nationally recognized hospital integrated delivery networks. For more information about Ascent Healthcare Solutions, visit www.ascenths.com.

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