Electrophysiology

The cardiac subspecialty of electrophysiology (EP) diagnoses and treats arrhythmias. This includes use of pacemakers to treat bradycardia, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) for tachycardia, heart failure and patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and cardiac ablation treatments to treat heart rhythm disorders.

FDA announces recall of cryoablation catheters after multiple injuries, including 4 deaths
Boston Scientific is recalling the catheters associated with its POLARx Cryoablation System due to a heightened risk of esophageal injury. The FDA has ruled that this a Class I recall.
Cardiologists perform world’s first leadless LBBAP procedures with Abbott pacemaker
The first-in-human procedures were performed in Prague with the investigational Aveir CSP leadless pacemaker system.
President of medical device company resigns over conduct allegations after 7 months in role
Joseph C. Wright, a longtime Merit Medical employee, resigned after unspecified allegations regarding his conduct were brought to light. He was named the company's new president back in May.
FDA and Boston Scientific issue urgent alert about pacemaker failures following 2 deaths
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued the recall notice for more than 200,000 pacemakers because a battery issue could lock the device in safe mode.
Treating AFib patients with TAVR still linked to elevated risks
While the technology and techniques associated with TAVR have advanced over the years, treating patients who present with baseline atrial fibrillation is still associated with certain risks.

A transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure being performed at Intermountain Healthcare. Image from Intermountain Healthcare

Atrial fibrillation after TAVR linked to much higher risk of death, heart failure

Researchers tracked data from nearly 7,000 TAVR patients for two years, focusing on all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalizations.

July 26, 2023

PaceMate gains a key investor in its heart monitoring technology

Lead Edge Capital is a well-known tech investor that has previously worked with such groups as Spotify, Duo Security and Toast.

July 25, 2023

dissolvable heart monitors for AFib designed by Northwestern and George Washington

New dissolvable heart monitors could help cardiologists battle AFib

The new-look devices are soft, flexible, transparent and roughly the size of a postage stamp.

July 7, 2023

Interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists ask CMS to clarify policy after unexpected denials

Three cardiology societies have reached out to CMS with questions about how MACs are interpreting a policy related to shared decision-making.

July 6, 2023

FDA approves Abbott’s Aveir dual chamber (DR) leadless pacemaker system, the world’s very first dual chamber leadless pacing solution for treating patients with abnormal heart rhythms.

FDA approves world’s first dual-chamber leadless pacemaker system

The minimally invasive system is made up of two pacemakers that send signals back and forth to one another. One pacemaker is placed on the patient's right ventricle, and the other is placed on the patient's right atrium.

July 5, 2023

Shockwave Medical's intravascular lithotripsy used during transvenous lead extraction

Intravascular lithotripsy helps address the challenges of transvenous lead extraction

Dense calcifications have long been viewed as one of the most challenging aspects of TLE procedures. IVL may offer specialists a new way to address that issue.

June 28, 2023

Shopping Cart ECG electrocardiogram AFib atrial fibrillation

Cardiology at the supermarket: Shopping carts upgraded to detect signs of AFib

Attaching ECG sensors to the handles of shopping carts could help identify signs of atrial fibrillation in patients who don't even realize they have it.

June 23, 2023

Abbott's TactiFlex flexible tip, force sensing ablation catheter (right), and its integration with the EnSite X EP mapping system (left) showing the distance from the last ablation. and the contact force during an AFib pulmonary vein isolation.

FDA clears first ablation catheter with flexible electrode tip, contact force sensing

Contact force-sensing catheters were developed to help overcome the issue of incomplete ablation lesions.

June 16, 2023

Electrophysiology

FDA announces recall of cryoablation catheters after multiple injuries, including 4 deaths

Cardiologists perform world’s first leadless LBBAP procedures with Abbott pacemaker

President of medical device company resigns over conduct allegations after 7 months in role

FDA and Boston Scientific issue urgent alert about pacemaker failures following 2 deaths

Treating AFib patients with TAVR still linked to elevated risks