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.

Meet ELVIS, the holographic display that improves cardiologist accuracy

ELVIS, it seems, has entered the operating room.

AI, imaging help clinicians predict cardiac death in heart failure patients

New research out of Japan could help at-risk patients receive the care they need as soon as possible.

Medtronic’s new ICM gains FDA clearance, CE mark approval

The device is roughly one-third the size of a AAA battery.

Slow heart rates reported in COVID-19 patients treated with lopinavir, ritonavir

Treating critically ill COVID-19 patients with a combination of lopinavir (LPV) and ritonavir (RTV) is associated with a significant risk of bradycardia, according to new research out of France.

Abbott’s line of next-generation heart rhythm devices gains FDA approval

The devices offer numerous new features, including an improved battery, MRI compatibility and Bluetooth connectivity.

Cloud-based imaging spinoff inHeart raises $4.2M for AI-based heart arrhythmia solution

It’s cloud software turns preoperative medical images into a 3D “digital twin” of the patient’s heart enabling providers to plan procedures and navigate instruments during surgery.

Study shows COVID-19 can infect heart cells—and do serious damage in the process

COVID-19 has the potential to infect cardiac cells, causing changes in their ability to function after just 72 hours.

Cardiologists shed new light on COVID-19 and cardiac arrhythmias

A higher rate of cardiac arrhythmias has been observed in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, but new research suggests there’s more behind that trend than the virus itself.

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