EP Lab

This channel includes news and new technology innovations for cardiac electrophysiology (EP) systems, techniques and devices using in EP labs. This includes implantable EP devices, pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), cardiac resychronization therapy (CRT), ablation technologies, left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion, atrial fibrilation (AF) and Holter monitors.

News | Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices (CRT)

CRT May Benefit More Heart Failure Patients in New Analysis of REVERSE Trial

March 3, 2021 — Medtronic announced new results from the landmark REVERSE trial, evaluating outcomes of cardiac ...

March 03, 2021

Impulse Dynamics Optimizer Smart device is an implantable device that helps optimize cardiac pumping action in heart failure patients.

News | Heart Failure

European Union Allows MRI Scans of Heart Failure Patients With Impulse Dynamics Implanted Optimizer Smart Devices

March 3, 2021 — Impulse Dynamics recently announced that DEKRA Certification B.V., a global regulatory organization ...

March 03, 2021

News | Atrial Fibrillation

First AF Patients Treated With Farapulse Pulsed Field Ablation System

March 3, 2021 — Farapulse Inc. announced the first patients were treated in the ADVENT Trial, a U.S. Food and Drug ...

March 03, 2021

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Case Study | Cardiovascular Information Systems (CVIS)

Single-Database Cardiology Platform Drives Efficient Workflow and Improves Data Access

Washington Health System (WHS) provides healthcare services at more than 40 offsite locations across three counties in ...

April 01, 2021

The two biggest cardiac device technology stories in February included the Boston Scientific recall of its S-ICD system, and the FDA clearance of the Shockwave intravascular lithotripsy system to break up calcified lesions in the coronary arteries.

Feature | By Dave Fornell, Editor

March 1, 2021 — Here is the list of the most popular content on the Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology (DAIC) ...

March 01, 2021

Remote cardiac monitoring vendor RhythMedix released its next-generation RhythmStar wearable device with built-in 4G cellular connectivity. The cardiac telemetry monitor can be worn for extended remote monitoring without the need for an additional phone or communication device.

News | Wearables

RhythMedix Launches Next-Generation RhythmStar Wearable Cardiac Monitor With Built-In Cellular Connectivity

February 23, 2021 — Remote cardiac monitoring vendor RhythMedix released its next-generation RhythmStar wearable device ...

February 23, 2021

product comparison charts for cardiology and health IT systems

Feature

Cardiology Product Comparison Charts Aid in Buying Decisions

Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology (DAIC) magazine maintains more than 50 comparison charts of product ...

February 12, 2021

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Feature | ECG

A Double-Edged Sword: How Over-the-Counter ECG Devices are Impacting Cardiac Care

Apple created a stir when it announced in 2018 that its Apple Watch Series 4 was the first consumer health and fitness ...

March 11, 2020

Figure 1: Picture of the Emblem S-ICD Subcutaneous Electrode with an arrow showing where separation usually happens (distal to the proximal sense ring).

Feature | Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) | By Dave Fornell, Editor

Boston Scientific Recalls Emblem S-ICD After 26 Serious Injuries and One Death

February 2, 2020 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified a recent recall of the Boston Scientific ...

February 02, 2021

The Optimize EP CaRM software integrates data from several EP devices a patients may use and aggregate it into one location.

News | EP Lab

Patient Data From Several Cardiac Devices Streamlined Into One Platform With New Cloud-based Software

February 2, 2021 – Optimize EP, a digital health company focused on transforming cardiac care by improving the current ...

February 02, 2021

The most popular story in the month of January 2021 was on a small study that showed the new iPhone 12 can cause ICDs to stop functioning. COVID-19 content continues to rank among the top stories, including an article on the possible long-term cardiac consequences of COVID-19 infection in COVID long-haulers.

Feature | By Dave Fornell, Editor

February 1, 2021 — Here is the list of the most popular content on the Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology (DAIC) ...

February 01, 2021

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Several wearable, less-obtrusive ECG monitors fhave been cleared by the FDA for longer wear. This example is Cardiac Insight’s Cardea SOLO device.

Feature | ECG

Moving Beyond Holter ECG: The Rise in Next Generation Technology

When the patients of Michael Boler, M.D. need cardiac monitoring, the Holter monitor is no longer his first choice. “The newer ECG devices we have now are so much less cumbersome. It’s like wearing a Band-Aid versus carrying a bulky device,” said the Greenwood, Mississippi internist. “My patients prefer the more comfortable, wire-free form factor, and the quality is as good as, or better, than the Holter,” continued Boler. “Plus, my patient compliance has increased. With the Holter, the leads sometimes come off. The patient may think the device isn’t working, so they take it off and we have to restart the process.”

February 19, 2020

Medtronic's DiamondTemp Ablation (DTA) system is FDA cleared to treat patients with recurrent, symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) and who have been unresponsive to drug therapy. The DiamondTemp system is the first FDA-approved, temperature-controlled, irrigated radiofrequency (RF) ablation system with diamonds currently available to deliver ablations.

News | Atrial Fibrillation

FDA Clears Medtronic DiamondTemp Ablation System to Treat Atrial Fibrillation

January 29, 2021 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared Medtronic's DiamondTemp Ablation (DTA) system ...

January 29, 2021

Patients with atrial fibrillation are at far greater risk of a catastrophic COVID outcomes, so steps should be taken to reduce AFib risks in addition to precautions against COVID like making, hand washing and social distancing. Images include an electromap from an AF ablation procedure and a COVID-19 from the CDC.

Feature | Atrial Fibrillation | By John D. Day, M.D., T. Jared Bunch, M.D., and Matthew D. LaPlante

Addressing Atrial Fibrillation in the World of COVID-19

In our most challenging and distressing days, it is nice to think about a post-COVID-19 world.

But while this ...

January 27, 2021

More complex, longer interventional procedures such as structural heart interventions or this revascularization of a coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, requires angiography imaging systems that have improved image detail and lower radiation dose. However, purchase of new systems was put on hold by many hospitals in 2020 due to the sudden drop in elective procedures and diversion of resources due to the COVID-19. Photo by Dave Fornell. Interventional X-ray market.

Feature | Angiography | By Bhvita Jani

Interventional X-ray Equipment Markets Plummeted in 2020 Due to COVID

January 19, 2021 – With the postponement of non-essential elective surgeries and medical procedures in 2020 to conserve ...

January 19, 2021

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Most professional athletes participate in cardiovascular screening to identify often-asymptomatic heart disorders, but the debate continues on whether to mandate ECGs as part of pre-participation screening for student athletes. Photo courtesy of Play for Patrick.

Feature | Sudden Cardiac Arrest

As Interpretation Criteria Evolve, False Positive Athlete ECG Screening Rates Can Decrease

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading medical cause of death in young athletes and its impact is consistent worldwide. Most professional athletes in the United States are required to take part in comprehensive cardiovascular screening programs to identify often-asymptomatic congenital or inherited heart disorders, and other cardiac risk factors. There remains a debate however, whether to mandate ECGs as part of pre-participation screening programs for student athletes at the collegiate and high school levels or even at younger ages.

October 16, 2018

A device programmer showing the suspension of ICD therapies (orange bar, red arrow) with iPhone 12 laying over patient’s chest (green arrow) and fluoroscopy of iPhone 12 showing the circular magnet array (yellow arrow). iPhone 12 can cause ICDs to stop working

News | Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)

iPhone 12 May Cause Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators to Malfunction

January 8, 2020 — A new study published this week in HeartRhythm, the journal of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), found ...

January 08, 2021

COVID-19 related topics by far out-paced all other topics in cardiology in 2020 on the DAIC website. Several stories topped the list related to the cardiovascular issues with hydroxychloroquine being used as a treatment for the virus. Top new device technologies in 2020 included European approval of the Abbott Tendyne transcatheter mitral valve, FDA approval of Medtronic's new Micra AV pill-sized pacemaker, and FDA clearance of the first drug-eluting stent with short-duration dual-antiplatelet therapy.

Feature | Dave Fornell, Editor