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.

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Example of the Esolution device developed by S4 Medical being used during a radiofrequency ablation procedure. Image courtesy of Daoud et al.

New medical device helps cardiologists limit esophageal injuries during RF ablation procedures

Injuries to the esophagus remain a common complication associated with radiofrequency ablation procedures. New research suggests a device developed by S4 Medical could significantly reduce the risk of such injuries. 

January 30, 2024
Element Science Jewel Patch Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator (P-WCD)

New patch-based wearable defibrillator receives CE mark approval

The device, which also received Great Britain’s UKCA marking, was specifically designed to be less bulky and easier to wear than other wearable cardioverter-defibrillators.

January 26, 2024
Medicare data stethoscope healthcare trends graphs finance financials

An updated look at combining LAAO with ablation, TAVR or other interventional heart procedures

Performing two procedures at once does not appear to make a significant impact on patient safety, though it may lead to a few new risks sure to interest heart teams. 

January 23, 2024
Pre-clinical images of the Abbott Volt pulsed field ablation system creating lesions using electroporation, presented at the 2023 AHA Scientific Sessions, The Abbott PFA system is now being used in a first-in-human study at the Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders at the University of Adelaide, Australia.

First patients treated with Abbott’s pulsed field ablation offering

According to Abbott, its Volt system was specifically designed to address weaknesses seen in other first-generation PFA offerings.

January 19, 2024
Illustration of a left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedure using a Watchman device. Image courtesy of Johns Hopkins Medicine. #LAA #LAAO

ICE-guided Watchman procedures linked to safety concerns—is TEE better for LAAO or will things improve?

TEE and ICE are each associated with certain advantages and disadvantages, researchers explained. The new analysis included data from nearly 40,000 patients.

January 19, 2024
A gavel and a stethoscope

Woman files lawsuit claiming Panera’s highly caffeinated beverages gave her heart issues

The 28-year-old woman says she drank two and a half Charged Lemonade drinks and was in the emergency room the very next day. According to her lawsuit, she was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and is now taking daily heart medications. 

January 18, 2024
money business cash flow dollar. Kingsway Financial Services, a Chicago-based holding company with subsidiaries in several industries, has acquired New Jersey-based Digital Diagnostics Imaging (DDI) for $11 million. The transaction was funded with $5.4 million in cash and $5.6 million in debt financing.

Integer acquires medical device specialists with experience in structural heart, electrophysiology for $140M

Integer's estimated 2023 sales nearly reached $1.6 billion, up 16% compared to 2022. According to the company's statement, this acquisition helps expand its footprint in several key markets. 

January 17, 2024
Eric Puroll, a project manager with the My Heart Your Heart program, examines donated pacemakers. For several years now, cardiologists, electrophysiologists and other heart specialists with the Frankel Cardiovascular Center at the University of Michigan (UM) have been working to get reconditioned pacemakers in the hands of patients who may not be able to afford a brand new device through the My Heart Your Heart program. Donated pacemakers are accepted if they have four years of battery life remaining.

Cardiologists give recycled pacemakers to heart patients in need

When patients with pacemakers die, what happens to the device? Typically, it ends up being discarded and forgotten—they were designed to be single-use devices, after all—but that does not have to be the case.

January 16, 2024
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