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.

ECG with paroxysm correct form of atrial flutter. Getty Images

News | Atrial Fibrillation

ACC, AHA Issue Updated Performance Measures for Adults with Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Flutter

December 23, 2020 — The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) has made two ...

December 23, 2020

With the FDA clearance of the Vital Data Sensor, Biotronik's Biomonitor IIIm features two-in-one detection, providing physicians the ability to monitor for early signs of potential life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and body temperature increases potentially associated with fever.

News | Implantable Cardiac Monitor (ICM)

FDA Clears Fever-Detecting Cardiac Monitor From Biotronik

December 22, 2020 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared Biotronik's Vital Data Sensor, which identifies ...

December 22, 2020

Videos | EP Device Monitoring Systems

VIDEO: Rising Interest in Remote Monitoring of EP Devices in the COVID-19 Era

Robert Kowal, M.D., chief medical officer of the Medtronic cardiac rhythm and heart failure division, said there has ...

December 22, 2020

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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

COVID-19 has posed challenges for physicians whose cardiac patients are at-risk and reluctant to schedule an office visit. Floyd Russak, M.D., of Russak Personalized Medicine, an internal medicine physician practicing in Greenwood Village, Colo., manages many cardiac patients who do not have ready access to a cardiologist

Feature | Wearables

Cardiac Monitoring in the Time of COVID-19: Next Generation Wearable ECG Technology Comes into Its Own

COVID-19 has posed challenges for physicians whose cardiac patients are at-risk and reluctant to schedule an office ...

December 15, 2020

Videos | EP Lab

VIDEO: Early Ablation Improved Outcomes in Atrial Fibrillation Patients

Oussama Wazni, M.D., section head, electrophysiology, Cleveland Clinic, discusses the results of the recent STOP AF ...

December 04, 2020

Attune Medical’s ensoETM is a single use thermal regulating device that is placed in the esophagus similar to a standard gastric tube and connected to an external heat exchange unit, creating a closed-loop system for heat transfer to increase or decrease patient temperature. Its placement in the esophagus, with proximity to blood flow from the heart and great vessels, allows highly efficient heat transfer. EPs are now looking at the device as a way to prevent RF damage to the esophagus during ablations.

News | EP Lab

Esophageal Cooling May Help Prevent Injury From Cardiac Ablations

December 3, 2020 – Attune Medical reports the first major peer-reviewed clinical publication using its ensoETM device in ...

December 03, 2020

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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

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared AliveCor's Kardia AI V2 next generation of interpretive artificial intelligence (AI)-based personal electrocardiogram (ECG) algorithms.

News | Artificial Intelligence

FDA Clears First AI-Powered Algorithm Suite for Personal ECG Monitoring

November 24, 2020 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared AliveCor's next generation of interpretive a ...

November 24, 2020

Videos | Atrial Fibrillation

VIDEO: Screening for Atrial Fibrillation Using Single Lead ECG in the VITAL-AF Trial

Steven Lubitz, M.D., MPH, cardiac electrophysiologist, Massachusetts General Hospital, presented the late-breaking VITAL ...

November 18, 2020

The three-year clinical outcomes of the mHealth Screening to Prevent Strokes (mSToPS) study evaluated the detection of silent, or previously undiagnosed, atrial fibrillation (AF) in moderate-risk individuals using the FDA-cleared Zio by iRhythm ambulatory monitoring patch. The results support the clinical value of early screening and targeted detection in moderate-risk populations. #AHA #AHA20 #AHA2020

News | Atrial Fibrillation

Wearable Heart Monitor Detects Previously Undiagnosed Atrial Fibrillation to Prevent Hospitalizations, Stroke and Death

November 16, 2020 — The three-year clinical outcomes of the mHealth Screening to Prevent Strokes (mSToPS) study ...

November 16, 2020

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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

The Medtronic SEEQ mobile cardiac telemetry system, pictured here, and the Icentia CardioSTAT cardiac rhythm monitoring device both found in reased rates of post-operative atrial fibrillation in the SEARCH-AF trial presented at the American Heart Association annual meeting. #AHA #AHA20 #AHA2020

News | Atrial Fibrillation

Patients at Risk of AF May Need Extra Monitoring After Heart Surgery

November 16, 2020 — Atrial fibrillation (AF), an irregular heartbeat that can increase the likelihood of stroke, was ...

November 16, 2020

The Medtronic Arctic Front cryoballoon balloon was used a a front-line treatment of AF in the EARLY-AF trial. It was found to be better than anti-arrhythmic drugs in preventing the recurrence of abnormal heart rhythm (atrial tachyarrhythmia, atrial fibrillation), and improve patient well-being. #AHA #AHA2020 #AHA20

News | Atrial Fibrillation

Early Invasive Intervention for Atrial Fibrillation May Improve Patient Outcomes and Provide a Better Quality of Life

November 16, 2020 – Doctors from the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) presented new data that shows catheter ablation as ...

November 16, 2020

NIH trial, the Outcomes Related to COVID-19 treated with Hydroxychloroquine among Inpatients with symptomatic Disease (ORCHID), showed no difference in deaths between placebo and hydroxychloroquine. Getty Images

News | Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Dave Fornell, Editor

Hydroxychloroquine Does Not Help Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

November 9, 2020 — A National Institutes of Health (NIH) clinical trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness of hydro ...

November 09, 2020

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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