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.

FDA clears next-generation platform for AI-enabled ECG evaluations
AccurECG 2.0 was designed to interpret a total of 13 different rhythm classifications, including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and ventricular tachycardia.
CBD shows early potential to treat heart disease
Early evidence suggests CBD could help clinicians treat pericarditis, myocarditis and other significant heart conditions. Additional research is still required, however, including many more clinical trials.
Stereotaxis gains FDA approval for new robotically navigated cardiac ablation catheter
This new-look RF ablation catheter moves through the use of computer-controlled magnets, providing electrophysiologists with improved maneuverability and precision.
Abbott PFA system gains FDA approval
The Volt Pulsed Field Ablation System from Abbott has been approved by the FDA. The technology, which gained CE mark approval in March, features a one-of-a-kind catheter design and allows patients to be treated under conscious sedation.
New PFA registry will use AI, EHR integration to gather real-world data
PFA has emerged as the preferred ablation strategy for many electrophysiologists, but some questions do remain about its long-term impact. HRS is developing this new registry to be as user-friendly for clinicians as possible.

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.

Medtronic receives CE mark approval for next-gen ICDs, CRT-Ds

Medtronic has received CE mark approval in the European Union for its Cobalt and Crome implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillators.

Experts dispute 9 of 17 genes once linked to long QT syndrome

A panel of experts from the Clinical Genome Resource are publicly disputing nine of 17 genes once thought to be linked to long QT syndrome.

Heart Rhythm

FDA clears next-generation platform for AI-enabled ECG evaluations

CBD shows early potential to treat heart disease

Stereotaxis gains FDA approval for new robotically navigated cardiac ablation catheter

Abbott PFA system gains FDA approval

New PFA registry will use AI, EHR integration to gather real-world data