New Technology to Treat Arrhythmias

A new digital magnetic navigation system helps doctors to remotely steer small catheters throughout the heart and surrounding vessels to treat cardiac arrhythmias.

This Stereotaxis technology uses magnets outside the body to guide catheters inside the heart by remote control. Cardiologists can then precisely position the catheters via remote control to reach the exact location where the heart is malfunctioning. The catheter is then activated to ablate or treat the area in the heart by disrupting the abnormal signals.

Cardiac arrthymias are caused by a change in the normal sequence of electrical impulses in the heart. This can cause the heart to pump less effectively. If arrhythmias last for some time, they may cause the heart rate to be too slow or too fast or the heart rhythm to be erratic.

"Stereotaxis offers us the ability to guide and place a catheter anywhere in the heart or surrounding vessels, including incredibly difficult or previously inaccessible locations,” noted William Katsiyiannis, M.D., a cardiologist with the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital (Minneapolis, MN, USA). "This technology has the potential to change how we treat patients who require interventional cardiac procedures.” The Minneapolis Heart Institute is recognized internationally as one of the world's leading heart institutes.

The Stereotaxis laboratory is located in Abbott Northwestern Hospital. The Stereotaxis system was developed by Stereotaxis, Inc. (St. Louis, MO, USA).





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