Robotic Catheter System Maps Heart

The system is designed to be compatible with existing fluoroscopy, intracardiac echocardiography, surface mapping visualization systems, and patient electrocardiogram (ECG) data. The physician workstation has multiple monitors displaying a variety of imaging, navigation, and physiologic data. Customized physician profiles are designed to enable quick procedure set up and rapid catheter response to commands during the procedure.

An instinctive motion controller integrates and interprets motion logic, facilitating the physician's ability to direct catheter movement regardless of image orientation or perspective. Catheter control in three dimensions is intended to eliminate the need for fixed curve sheaths. The robotic catheter manipulator couples to a steerable guide catheter with through-lumen that controls existing percutaneous catheters. This manipulator also offers stability not often possible with manual control, reducing tedious re-positioning. The system can be easily moved among catheter lab suites and does not require the costly construction of a specialized room.

The Sense robotic catheter system is made by Hansen Medical (Mountain View, CA, USA). To date, 83 cardiac procedures have been performed on patients in Europe using the system.

"The new robotic catheter system has the potential to fundamentally change the way electrophysiology procedures are performed worldwide and make it possible for a broader group of physicians to perform complex cardiac procedures such as cardiac arrhythmia mapping,” said Wyn Davies, M.D., FRCP, FHRS, a consultant cardiologist at St. Mary's Hospital (London, UK), and principal investigator of a 20-patient prospective trial conducted in support of approval by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).



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