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.

Sentiar CommandEP mixed reality system virtual screens augmented reality

Virtual screens could make augmented reality more useful during cardiac ablation

It's still early, but a new feature could provide significant value when electrophysiologists use augmented reality during ablation procedures. 

Abbott has recalled its TactiFlex Ablation Catheter, Sensor Enabled, because of reports that the tip can separate.

Abbott warns EP labs the tip can detach from its TactiFlex ablation catheters

Improper removal of the catheter from the packaging can result in tip damage. Most damaged tips were detected prior to being used, but three tips did separate inside patients.
 

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Update: FDA confirms recalls for defibrillation leads after nearly 400 injuries

Safety concerns with certain Boston Scientific leads have resulted in multiple Class I recalls, the FDA has announced. The agency first shared a warning about this issue in August. 

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Boston Scientific to purchase Elutia’s drug-eluting envelope business for $88M

The FDA-cleared EluPro bioenvelope delivers two antibiotics to patients over an extended period of time after they receive an implantable pacemaker or defibrillator to cut infection rates.

Exploring the link between left ventricular diastolic function and AFib

Evaluating LVDF with echocardiography or AI-powered electrocardiography can help identify individuals at an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation, according to new data presented at the ASE 36th Annual Scientific Sessions.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Q&A: Cardiologist explores CMS proposal to cover cardiac ablations performed in ambulatory surgical centers

CMS has proposed a policy shift that would allow cardiac ablation procedures to be performed in ambulatory surgical centers. Arash Aryana, MD, PhD, a veteran cardiac electrophysiologist, explained why he is "extremely encouraged" by this proposal, highlighting several potential benefits. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted pre-market approval (PMA) for the Globe Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System, and 510(k) clearance for both the Globe introducer sheath and the Globe Pulsed Field System mapping software from Kardium Inc. This add another competitor in the growing U.S. PFA market to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib).

FDA clears Kardium Globe pulsed field ablation system

It is the only integrated system that combines high-density mapping and PFA in a single device. The system uses a 122-electrode spherical array to enable rapid, single-shot pulmonary vein isolation, helping to streamline workflows.

Philips introduced a new cardiac monitoring telemetry platform designed to help address critical challenges in healthcare, including staff shortages and alarm management. A key component of the solution is the next-generation Telemetry Monitor 5500 is an integrated central monitoring unit solution that integrates the telemetry device platform.

Philips launches smart telemetry platform for cardiac monitoring

Care teams can face alarm and cognitive overload, with an average of 350 alarms going off per patient per day. But Philips' new telemetry platform streamlines alarm management, delivers data-driven insights and automates clinical tasks—with operational simplicity and networking options.