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.

Many older AFib patients prescribed inappropriately dosed DOACs

Nearly a quarter of older patients with atrial fibrillation receive inappropriately dosed direct-acting oral anticoagulants, according to an analysis of the ongoing SAGE-AF study.

Ablation continues to benefit patients with concomitant HF, AFib

A new analysis of the CASTLE-AF trial has found that catheter ablation for AFib remains effective in a much larger group of heart failure patients, cementing evidence first presented in early 2018.

Researchers ID new protein as contributor to sudden cardiac death

A small-scale study published in Circulation March 3 has revealed a potential new culprit behind sudden cardiac death in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy: integrin β1D.

New wearable measures CV vitals through 4 layers of clothing—or fur

Researchers at Imperial College London have developed a new type of sensor that can track vital signs in both humans and animals, suggesting the ever-growing wearables trend is expanding to include pets and livestock.

‘Potentially everything we’ve hoped for’: Pulsed field ablation used for 1st time in U.S.

Pulsed field ablation technology has been used to treat atrial fibrillation for the first time in the U.S.

Apple Watch helps ID AFib, Cleveland Clinic says—but there’s still a ways to go

A study published Feb. 25 in Circulation suggests wearables are useful for detecting CV abnormalities like atrial fibrillation, but there’s still a long way to go before they can be trusted for clinical management.

FDA delayed reporting, recalling faulty HF pacemaker for more than 1 year

Medtronic and the FDA were both aware of battery and wire connection defects in a now-recalled heart failure pacemaker for over a year before patients developed serious side effects, according to a report published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

FitBit data reveal major differences in average resting HR

A recent analysis of FitBit data suggests there is no one “normal” resting heart rate for humans, with users’ average HR coming in at between 40 and 109 beats per minute, Discover Magazine reported.

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