FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions on Oscor Pacing Leads

For detailed user information, intended use and warnings for each product please refer to the Instructions for Use.

For additional questions please contact us at 727-937-2511.

Q: What kind of Polyurethane is Oscor using in its Polyurethane Implantable Pacing Leads?
A: Oscor uses for almost 20 years Polyurethane 90A in almost all of its pacing leads. There was never a recall on any Oscor all Polyurethane lead.

Q: What is the average complaint rate of the Oscor Polyurethane leads since 1993?
A: Oscor uses polyurethane inner insulation on most bipolar silicone as well as polyurethane leads. The overall complaint rate on all models manufactured between Jan. 1985 and Sept. 2000 is 0.35%. An overall survival rate of 99.65%, which is a lot higher than the industry standard of 95%.

Q: Are Oscor pacing leads compatible to the current pacemakers from Medtronic, Guidant, St. Jude Medical, ELA Medical and Biotronik?
A: Yes, all Oscor leads are featured with a connector pin according to the IS-1 standard and therefore are compatible with all pacemakers with IS-1 headers.

Q: Does Oscor have Retractable Screw-In Active Fixation Implantable Pacing Leads?
A: We have both screwdriver (ZY Series) and connector pin driven active fixation leads (PY Series). Oscor also offers a line of fixed Screw-In Permanent Pacing Leads (KY Series). For detailed user information, intended use and warnings, please refer to the physician's Instructions for Use.

Q: Does Oscor have a "Direct Drive" Active Fixation Implantable Pacing Lead?
A: The "direct-drive" or "stylet-drive" active fixation leads are our family of ZY retractable screw-in leads. For more information about Oscor ZY leads click here. For detailed user information, intended use and warnings please refer to the physician's user manual.

Q: Is the screw of the ZY Implantable Pacing Lead electrically active?
A: The helix (screw) of all ZY models is not electrically active and serves mainly as a mechanical means to fixate the lead tip.

Q: How many turns of the Screwdriver Stylet of the ZY Implantable Pacing Lead does it take to extract the screw?
A: Only three complete clockwise turns, provided that the helix (screw) was completely retracted before. For detailed user information, intended use and warnings please refer to the physician's Instructions for Use.

Q: How do I see under x-ray that the screw of the ZY Implantable Pacing Lead is extracted?
A: On the fluoroscopic image of the ZY lead, the tip appears to be a solid tip when the helix (screw) is retracted. The same solid tip "breaks" into two pieces when the helix is completely extended, giving the distal end the appearance of having "three" electrodes.
NOTE: The ZY screw-in mechanism has a "unique" feature which is called the "clutch-system". When a fully inserted screwdriver stylet is turned counterclockwise for more than 4 turns, a slight clicking sensation is "felt" in the stylet handle. This clicking sensation tells the operator that the helix (screw) is now completely retracted. Only then should the operator apply the recommended 3, and not more than 3, clockwise turns to extend the helix for the final fixation. For detailed user information, intended use and warnings please refer to the physician's Instructions for Use.

Q: Is the ZY Implantable Pacing Lead available in Polyurethane or Silicone?
A: The ZY lead is available with either a silicone or a polyurethane outer insulation.

Q: Is the ZY Implantable Pacing Lead available in a preformed J shape?
A: The ZY atrial lead has a preformed J distal portion and is available in either a silicone or a polyurethane outer insulation. The ZY is also available in a straight version for placement in the ventricle. For detailed user information, intended use and warnings please refer to the physician's Instructions for Use.

Q: Does Oscor have a Connector Pin driven Active Fixation Implantable Pacing Lead?
A: The PY and PR family of Oscor leads are connector pin driven retractable screw-in leads. The stylets do not activate the helix (screw) mechanism and are mainly used to guide the tip of the lead to the desired location. For detailed user information, intended use and warnings please refer to the physician's Instructions for Use.

Q: How many turns of the connector pin of the PY/PR Series Implantable Pacing Lead does it take to extract the screw?
A: From a completely retracted to a fully extended helix takes about 10 to 12 turns when the lead is implanted. A demo dry run with the lead lengthwise on a flat surface, the total amount of pin rotations for helix activation should not exceed 6 to 8 turns. For detailed user information, intended use and warnings please refer to the physician's user manual.

Q: How do I know that the screw of the PY Series Implantable Pacing lead is retracted?
A: The packaged lead comes with the helix (screw) completely retracted. Upon the activation of the helix the amount of applied connector pin turns clockwise should be memorized. The same amount of turns counterclockwise should be applied to offset the previously used clockwise turns and vice versa.

Q: Is the PY Implantable Pacing Lead available in Polyurethane or Silicone?
A: The PY/PR pacing lead is only available with a silicone outer insulation.

Q: Is the PY Implantable Pacing Lead available in a preformed J shape?
A: No, however the lead may be used either in the atrium or ventricle by using the preformed J-stylet or the straight stylet respectively. The stylet gives the lead the form it needs and also serves as the guiding mechanism to direct the tip to the desired location.

Q: Is the screw of the PY Series Implantable Pacing Lead electrically active?
A: Yes, the screw/helix of the PY/PR lead is electrically active. The PY lead has a proprietary "Anti-Chattering" mechanism incorporated, which assures a consistent and permanent electrical contact between the fixation screw and tip electrode.

Q: Does Oscor have a preformed J tined Lead?
A: Yes, we have two bipolar Polyurethane/ Polyurethane leads: the RU..TJUSBV and the Petite™ JB Series, plus two unipolar leads, the silicone RZ..TJV and the polyurethane RZ..TJUV.

Q: Why is Oscor's helix screw so unique?
A: The helix (screw) is smaller in size than most of our competitor's version, sturdy to keep the fixed tip in place, but when accidentally pulled on, the screw actually straightens out leaving the myocardial tissue in the myocardium, where it belongs. For easy fixation, each screw is sharpened by a proprietary process performed by experienced personnel out of the Swiss watch industry.

Q: Does Oscor have any epicardial permanent pacing leads?
A: Yes, Oscor offers a complete line of unipolar and bipolar epicardial suture-on permanent pacing leads, the MP series. For more information about the Oscor MP lead, please click here.

Q: Does Oscor have an Implantable Lead Adaptor to adapt from a unipolar 6mm (Cordis) connector pin or a 5mm (Medtronic) connector pin to an unipolar IS-1 connector pin?
A: Yes, this Adaptor model number is C/VS-10. Oscor offers a complete line of upsizing and downsizing lead Adaptors and extensions. For details, please click here.

Q: Does Oscor have an Implantable Lead Adaptor to adapt from a unipolar LV-1 (Guidant CS Lead) connector pin to a unipolar IS-1 connector pin?
A: Yes, this Adaptor model number is LV/VS-10. Oscor offers a complete line of upsizing and downsizing lead Adaptors and extensions. For details, please click here.

Q: Does Oscor have an Implantable Lead Adaptor to extend from a unipolar Is-1 connector pin to an unipolar IS-1 connector pin?
A: Yes, this Adaptor model number is VV-10. Oscor offers a complete line of upsizing and downsizing lead Adaptors and extensions. For details, please click here.

Q: Does Oscor have an Implantable Lead Adaptor to connect two bipolar IS-1 leads to one bipolar IS-1 connector?
A: Yes, this Adaptor model number is 2BIS/BIS. Oscor offer a complete line of upsizing and downsizing lead Adaptors and extensions. For details, please click here.

Q: Does Oscor have a "longer" introducer set?
A: Yes, this product, the LLP-Long, a longer version of our LLP introducer, has a 23cm long sheath instead of the 16cm sheath length of the standard LLP.

Q: Does Oscor sell any Pacemakers?
A: Yes, Oscor does have a single chamber external pacemaker, the PACE 101H, and a dual chamber external pacemaker, the new PACE 203H. Oscor does not sell any implantable pacemakers.

Q: What is unique about the Oscor Temporary Myocardial Heartwire or Pacing Wire?
A: Oscor heartwires come in bipolar (TME 64/65/66 Series) as well as quadripolar versions (TME 227/228 Series). Every version has a 2 mm connector pin Adaptor included within the sterilized packaged. The unipolar contains one pin Adaptor and the bipolar has two pin Adaptors. Each 2 mm pin Adaptor incorporates a protective cap, which seals the unprotected pin from accidental contact. Oscor offers several unique fixation mechanism into the myocardium.