The Advantage-MR EP recorder/stimulator system (Imricor Medical Systems) has been granted CE mark. The device is a magnetic resonance (MR) conditional recording system for magnetic resonance imaging-guided electrophysiology (MRI-EP) procedures.
According to a press release, the Advantage-MR system should allow physicians to improve outcomes and provide safer, more cost-effective treatment in an environment free from radiation.
“With this exciting news, we’ve taken the first step in moving cardiac ablations out of the x-ray lab and into the 21st century,” says Steve Wedan, Imricor’s president and chief executive officer.
“With MRI, doctors can, for the first time, see the hearts they are working on throughout their procedures; they can see the results of the therapy they deliver; and they can do all this without exposing their patients or themselves to dangerous radiation.”
The Advantage-MR EP recorder/stimulator system is designed to provide the full functionality of an EP recording system and cardiac stimulator within the MRI environment. The Advantage-MR system handles the display and recording of intracardiac electrograms, as well as pacing functions and tip temperature monitoring. When used with a compatible radiofrequency (RF) generator, it can deliver RF energy for ablation procedures.
MRI-guided procedures can address the fundamental limitations of x-ray-guided ablations. With MRI guidance, physicians can see the unique tissue structure of a patient’s heart during the procedure and individualise the treatment to the patient’s current disease state. In addition, MRI allows physicians to see the immediate results of the therapy they are delivering. This means doctors can assess the quality of the lesions being created and fill gaps in the ablation line during the initial procedure.
