In the U.S. alone, about 6.3 million people are affected by cardiac arrhythmia each year. It’s basically a situation in which abnormal electrical activity in the heart results in an irregular heart beat, or one that’s too fast or too slow. GE Healthcare is now collaborating with Imricor Medical Systems on a new tool to help treat the problem that represents a “quantum leap” in technology.
Get rhythm: “Together with GE’s highly advanced MR systems, the goal is to deliver the tools doctors need to cure atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias faster, more effectively, and without the x-ray exposure of conventional methods,” said Steve Wedan, president and CEO of Imricor.
For anyone with cardiac arrhythmia, one method of treatment is with procedures that involve placing a catheter inside the heart to measure and restore electrical pathways. However, conventional devices are incompatible with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology — a superior way to view the internal structure of the heart when not using contrast media, which involves placing a substance into the body to improve visibility. Because MRIs are incompatible, x-rays are used instead — even though they don’t offer clear visibility in an already complex procedure. The new collaboration aims to address that.
GE and Imricor just announced they’re going to co-develop a revolutionary MR-guided, catheter-based technique that improves outcomes, lowers procedure time and eliminates ionizing radiation exposure for patients and clinicians. Bryan Van Meter, GE Healthcare MR Interventional Global Marketing Manager, says it can potentially offer cardiologists “real-time” visualization of the heart that has “significant potential.”
* Learn more about GE’s collaboration with Imricor
