AlluraClarity reduces radiation in image-guided catheter ablation trial in The Netherlands

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The Catharina Hospital (Eindhoven, The Netherlands) and Royal Philips has announced the results of a clinical study involving the treatment of 136 patients with complex heart rhythm disorders such as atrial fibrillation.

Using Philips’ AlluraClarity system with ClarityIQ technology, developed by Philips for use in image-guided catheter-based interventions, electrophysiologists at the Catharina Hospital were able to reduce patients’ exposure to X-ray radiation during the procedure by 42% while maintaining image quality. The electrophysiologist’s exposure to X-ray radiation was also reduced by 50% to 3μSv per procedure-approximately one thousandth of the average natural background radiation dose (2–3 μSv) that most people in the Netherlands are exposed to each year, it said in a press release.

“With Philips’ ClarityIQ technology we can further enhance image-guided catheter ablation therapy for complex heart rhythm disorders,” concluded cardiologist Lukas Dekker of the Heart Center at Catharina Hospital, the largest heart centre in the Netherlands. “The number of people with arrhythmias eligible for catheter ablation therapy is increasing sharply, so treating the condition needs to be made simpler and even safer. In addition to minimising the risk to patients, reducing X-ray dosage is also an important step for medical personnel, because many of them are exposed to X-ray radiation on a daily basis.”

“Live images are essential during catheter ablation therapy for heart rhythm disorders because of the complex anatomy in the areas of the heart that need to be ablated,” said Ronald Tabaksblat, General Manager of Interventional X-ray at Philips Healthcare. “Together with our clinical partners, we have developed the Clarity IQ technology, and overcome the technical hurdle of combining high image quality with low X-ray dose for a broad range of X-ray guided procedures. With the anticipated increase in the number of EP procedures, reducing X-ray dose, while maintainingimage quality is very important for both patients and clinicians.”

Philips plays a leading role in the field of minimally invasive interventions with the development of complete cardiac catheterisation rooms containing advanced facilities for investigating and treating arrhythmias. Philips has also developed sophisticated tools such as its innovative EP navigator, which produces 3D images of a patient’s heart and visualises the position of the catheters in real time.

Other application areas where Philips’ AlluraClarity interventional X-ray system with ClarityIQ technology has been shown to reduce X-ray doses, while maintainingimage quality, are coronary angiography procedures (50% X-ray dose reduction) and neurological interventions (73% X-ray dose reduction).