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    VT Symposium 2025: Dr. Vivek Reddy Shares First-in-Human Results with a Novel Pericardial Access System

    Philadelphia, PA – VT Symposium 2025:


    At this year’s meeting, Dr. Vivek Y. Reddy presented findings from the Epicardial Access StudY with Rook (EASY-R) – a first-in-human confirmatory trial evaluating the PeriCross™ Epicardial Access Kit (formerly Rook®) from CIRCA Scientific.

    Epicardial access is a critical yet technically demanding step for electrophysiologists treating ventricular and atrial arrhythmias. Traditional subxiphoid “dry tap” techniques using a Tuohy needle can carry meaningful risk, including right-ventricular puncture and bleeding. The PeriCross system was designed to help address these challenges with a purpose-built, tine-based mechanism that allows clinicians to capture first – then puncture.

    The EASY-R Study1

    Conducted at Na Homolce Hospital (Prague, CZ) under the direction of Prof. Petr Neužil and Dr. Vivek Reddy, EASY-R enrolled 39 patients requiring pericardial access for procedures such as VT ablation, AF ablation, lead extraction, or diagnostic fluid sampling.

     

    Key Findings

    • All 39 patients achieved guidewire access to the pericardial space using the PeriCross device, confirmed under fluoroscopy – meeting the study’s primary endpoint
    • Average time to access was 3 ± 3 minutes, with over 50 % of cases completed in under 2 minutes – demonstrating quick, repeatable performance
    • The incidence of ventricular puncture was 7.7 %, significantly below the 20 % rate historically reported for Tuohy-needle access (p = 0.0058). No surgeries were required, and all events were managed percutaneously.
    • Mean fluoroscopy time was 2.0 ± 1.3 minutes, and mean contrast use was 0.7 ± 0.5 mL, minimizing procedural exposure

     

    A Stepwise, Purpose-Built Approach

    Dr. Reddy emphasized the intuitive design of the PeriCross system – engineered to give physicians control when every movement matters.

    1. Tunneler positioned to the pericardial surface.

    2. Tines engaged to gently capture and stabilize the pericardium.

    3. Pericardium retracted, creating separation from the myocardium.

    4. Needle advanced only after capture, enabling deliberate entry.

    5. Guidewire deployed into the pericardial space.

    The integrated safety-lockout prevents the needle from advancing until the tines are fully deployed, supporting a capture-first, puncture-second sequence that helps reduce risk

     

    Clinical Perspective

    According to Dr. Reddy, these results reinforce the potential for a more controlled and confident approach to epicardial access – without changing the familiar subxiphoid workflow. “In this early experience, the device was straightforward to use and provided consistent access in just a few minutes,” he noted during his presentation.

     

    To see the presentation, and more discussoin on the early experiences with PeriCross, visit: www.circascientific.com/easyr

     

     

    About Circa Scientific:

    CIRCA Scientific is dedicated to empowering physicians with innovative technologies that offer unprecedented access and control for complex medical interventions. Guided by a CardioCentric™ approach, we are committed to enhancing procedural success and advancing patient care. For more information on CIRCA Scientific and its portfolio of cardiac solutions, visit www.circascientific.com.

    © CIRCA Scientific, Inc., 2025. All rights reserved. CrossWise, CardioCentric, CIRCA Scientific, and the CIRCA Scientific logo are trademarks of CIRCA Scientific, Inc. Patents: www.circascientific.com/patents. CAUTION: US law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician. Before use, consult instructions for use supplied with this device for indications, contraindications, side effects, warnings, and precautions.

    SOURCE CIRCA Scientific, Inc.

     

    1 - CIRCA Scientific. Epicardial Access StudY with Rook (EASY-R) – Final Clinical Study Report. M064-097 Rev 00 (2025).

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