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.

The Freezor Cardiac Cryoablation Catheters

FDA expands two Medtronic cardiac cryoablation catheters for AVNRT

The two single-use devices are now approved for the treatment of pediatric AVNRT.

February 18, 2022

A dedicated Cardiac MRI scanner. The presence of myocardial fibrosis on cardiac MRI can help anticipate adverse arrhythmic events and may offer a way to improve patient selection for cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). This is a dedicated cardiac MRI system at Baylor Scott White.

Cardiac MRI a powerful tool for predicting sudden cardiac death, arrhythmia after CIED implantation

The study's authors suspect their findings could improve patient selection for CIEDs.

February 17, 2022

healthcare value value-based care money dollar

Boston Scientific finalizes acquisition of Baylis Medical with $1.75B payment

The deal, first announced in October 2021, expands Boston Scientific’s structural heart disease and electrophysiology portfolios by a significant margin.

February 16, 2022

Enrollment in ACC NCDR increased after U.S. News and World Report said it could improve hospital rankings

Even with this bump, only about one in three eligible hospitals participate in the NCDR registries.

February 11, 2022

The Abbott Aveir DR dual-chamber leadless pacemaker recently had its first human implant occur in the Aveir DR i2i study pivotal trial.

First implant of dual-chamber leadless pacemaker completed in Abbott’s Aveir DR i2i pivotal trial

The investigational dual-chamber pacemaker is designed to provide synchronous, beat-by-beat pacing of the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart.

February 8, 2022

Philips pledges to help American Heart Association raise awareness about CIED infections

A majority of patients in the United States with CIED infections do not receive proper, guideline-approved care.

January 19, 2022

FDA clears new cardiac mapping solution for treating arrhythmias

The platform provides users with full 3D maps of a patient's heart.

January 12, 2022

‘Surprising’ trends in ICD use among HCM patients

ICD use among this patient population is slowly growing, but some key disparities remain.

December 8, 2021

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