Heart Rhythm

Hearts should have normal rhythm to their beats, but when these beats are out of synch, it causes inefficient pumping of blood. Irregular heart arrhythmias occur when the electrical signals that coordinate the heart's beats do not work properly. This can cause beats that are too fast (tachycardia), or too slow (bradycardia). Tachycardias include atrial fibrillation (AFib), supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia (VT). Bradycardias include sick sinus syndrome and conduction block. Electrophysiology arrhythmia treatments include medications, life style changes, and the EP lab interventions of catheter ablation, and implantable pacemakers or defibrillators.

Johnson & Johnson MedTech launches new 2D ICE catheter
The company says the new device was designed to improve image quality, provide additional maneuverability and simplify ablation workflows for electrophysiologists.
Johnson & Johnson MedTech ordered to pay $147M for antitrust violations
The company told Cardiovascular Business it respectfully disagrees with the jury's decision and is evaluating all possible legal options going forward. The Association of Medical Device Reprocessors, meanwhile, celebrated the news.
Cardiologists are first in world to use new cooling device to terminate AFib during surgery
Patients often develop AFib during cardiac surgery, leading to longer hospital stays, additional healthcare costs and a higher risk of mortality. Cooling the oblique sinus of the patient's heart as soon as AFib starts to develop may represent a new way to stop the problem in its tracks.
World’s first leadless LBBAP procedures linked to ‘promising’ outcomes
Cardiologists are turning to leadless pacemakers more and more for cardiac pacing, but those devices have not previously been able to perform LBBAP. This new analysis includes new data on the world’s very first leadless LBBAP procedures.
AI predicts LBBB risk in TAVR patients prior to treatment
The authors tested out a variety of machine learning techniques, including large language models and more traditional algorithms. They focused on data that can be gathered prior to treatment, ensuring cardiologists know as much as possible before the procedure.

Atrial Fibrillation Centers of Excellence: The best path forward for high-quality care and better outcomes

The world is in the throes of an AFib pandemic, one that could potentially get worse in the years ahead due to population growth, economic hardships and rigid resource limitations. According to the Heart Rhythm Society, one way to effectively combat this issue is the development of more AFib Centers of Excellence.

Imricor Medical Systems ventricular ablation

Cardiologists make history, perform world’s first ventricular ablation guided by real-time MRI

“MRI images provide a better view of the anatomy of the heart and the instruments used for treatment, but also of the changes made to the treated cardiac tissue,” one cardiologist explained. “Unlike X-ray images, the entire area surrounding the heart can be seen, including the blood vessels and valves."

LUMA Vision Verafeye Visualization Platform

FDA clears catheter-based 4D visualization platform for complex heart procedures

The new technology from LUMA Vision allows operators to deliver 2D and 4D ultrasound images in real time. The advanced catheter was built with maneuverability and increased visibility in mind.

WiSE CRT system EBR Systems leadless pacing

FDA approves leadless CRT device for heart failure

The WiSE CRT system is approximately the size of a single cooked grain of rice. It works with a patient’s existing implant to provide biventricular pacing.

American College of Cardiology (ACC) President Christopher Kramer, MD, FACC, spoke at a hearing of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies March 9 to urge lawmakers to allocate full funding for the Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in Schools (HEARTS) Act (H.R.6829). It was signed into law in the closing weeks of the Biden administration. #ACC

ACC testifies in Washington to get funding for the HEARTS Act amid big cuts to healthcare

ACC President Christopher Kramer, MD, testified before a Congressional subcommittee to ask for federal funding to support a new law aimed at reducing sudden cardiac arrest deaths, and to support NIH research.

FDA clears new device for enabling access to the heart’s surface without an exposed needle

CardioVia's ViaOne technology includes a blunt-tip needle that remains concealed to help interventional cardiologists and electrophysiologists treat cardiac arrhythmias with a reduced risk of perforation or any other complications.

A majority of medical devices involved in Class I recalls were never required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to undergo premarket or postmarket clinical testing, according to new research published in Annals of Internal Medicine.[1]

Quality of care for heart patients does not improve in first year of ACO participation

Researchers tracked patient outcomes through the use of 15 performance measures related to hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

Heart Rhythm Advocates (HRA), the political advocacy wing of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS).

Heart Rhythm Society legislative advocacy group raising funds for electrophysiology

This week, Heart Rhythm Advocates announced its establishment and called on cardiologists and EPs to support its efforts with membership and joining committees to guide efforts.

Heart Rhythm

Johnson & Johnson MedTech launches new 2D ICE catheter

Johnson & Johnson MedTech ordered to pay $147M for antitrust violations

Cardiologists are first in world to use new cooling device to terminate AFib during surgery

World’s first leadless LBBAP procedures linked to ‘promising’ outcomes

AI predicts LBBB risk in TAVR patients prior to treatment