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.

P‐waves can help identify Black patients prone to developing AFib
Research that followed patients for more than 13 years suggests increases in ECG PR interval, P‐wave duration and PTFV1 are associated with increased AFib risk in this cohort.
New-onset AFib is common after CABG—but typically not persistent or symptomatic
The study's authors questioned if these patients should even be given oral anticoagulation as currently recommended.
Field Medical’s PFA system for ventricular tachycardia shows early potential
More research is still required, but Field Medical's FieldForce Ablation System may represent a significant step forward in the treatment of scar-related ventricular tachycardia.
Medtech companies working together on robotic PFA system
Stereotaxis and CardioFocus are collaborating on a new robotic pulsed field ablation system. After completing some initial research, the companies are now working toward the launch of a clinical trial.
Q&A: What cardiologists know and don’t know about pulsed field ablation
Peter Weiss, MD, a veteran electrophysiologist, sat down with Cardiovascular Business to discuss the ongoing rise of pulsed field ablation. While he's impressed with the technology, he says many questions remain about its long-term value.

Philips Healthcare launched the Philips ECG AI Marketplace platform that gives cardiac care teams access to multiple vendor offerings in one central location to more efficiently manage and implement artificial intelligence (AI)-powered diagnostic tools through Philips ECG workstations.

New Philips platform offers AI-powered ECG tools from outside vendors

Philips has launched a new 'AI Marketplace' that expands access to third-party diagnostic tools. The company's goal is to put a variety of offerings into one convenient location for clinicians.

The late-breaking U.S. multicenter admIRE clinical trial at the Heart Rhythm Society 2024 meeting, showed positive data on the long-term safety and effectiveness of the the Biosense Webster Varipulse pulsed field ablation (PFA) system in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. #HRS #HRS2024 #PFA

Update to Johnson & Johnson PFA platform gains FDA approval

The Varipulse PFA platform originally gained FDA approval in 2024. According to Johnson & Johnson MedTech, this update was put in place to help the technology provide better patient outcomes going forward.

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With MPFS proposal on the way, electrophysiology groups outline their priorities

The Heart Rhythm Society and its new advocacy arm plan on pushing CMS to include certain policy improvements in the 2026 MPFS.

Farapulse Boston Scientific Pulsed Field Ablation PFA fda approval

FDA expands approval of Boston Scientific’s Farapulse PFA system

The FDA's 2024 approval of the Farapulse system covered patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Now, however, the technology is officially approved for patients with more persistent symptoms.

PFA market heats up as medtech companies announce new investments

While Kardium raised $250 million in an oversubscribed funding round, Field Medical raised $35 million. Both companies are focused on designing and developing new pulsed field ablation technologies to help treat challenging arrhythmias.

Heart attack deaths are way down after decades of breakthroughs—but other risks have skyrocketed

Researchers explored more than 52 years of data, highlighting several key trends in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Atraverse Medical raises $29M to support FDA-approved heart tech

The San Diego-based startup gained FDA approval for its Hotwire RF guidewire in 2024. The technology has already been used to perform hundreds of heart procedures.

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Judge triples damages in antitrust lawsuit, ordering Johnson & Johnson MedTech to pay $442M

A bad outcome for Johnson & Johnson MedTech just got worse. A jury previously ordered the company to pay $147M, but the new total is $442M.

Heart Rhythm

P‐waves can help identify Black patients prone to developing AFib

New-onset AFib is common after CABG—but typically not persistent or symptomatic

Field Medical’s PFA system for ventricular tachycardia shows early potential

Medtech companies working together on robotic PFA system

Q&A: What cardiologists know and don’t know about pulsed field ablation