NaviStar, to Navigate in Your Artery

Online, December 18, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Atrial fibrillation (AF) concerned about 2.66 million of Americans in 2010. It is a progressive disease and the most widespread type of cardiac arrhythmia, characterized by an irregular heartbeat. It can be fatal. Every new episode of AF last longer and strengthened the malady as the cardiac chamber tissues are adapting to cardiac arrhythmia, favoring the occurrence of new atrial fibrillationЎЇs episode. To restore a normal sinus rhythm and cure the disease, cardioversion is needed before the AF becomes permanent. It consists of an electrical or drug treatment. When AF is diagnosed as permanent, a specific cardiac ablation is needed to cure the disease. It involves inserting a special catheter into the patientЎЇs heart chamber to fix the cardiac rhythm.

A breakthrough in medical technology facilitates cardiac ablation for atrial fibrillation cases. With a magnetic irrigated-tip made of rare earth magnet, surgeons can now remotely navigate in the cardiac chamber as the patient is installed in the center of a magnetic field. This installation includes other substantial medical equipment needed to monitor the patientЎЇs vital state throughout the surgical procedure and a mapping device.

Biosense Webster*, a leader in cardiac diagnostic and mapping tools, released an advanced medical device, NaviStar. This innovative catheter displays a magnetized tip made from permanent magnets. Through a remote magnetic navigation system, doctors are able to efficiently direct the catheter inside the cardiac chamber with a joystick. The magnetic installation surrounding the patient will create a magnetic field within which surgeons can navigate the catheter.
According to Stanford Magnets, a rare earth magnets supplier, high performance neodymium magnets are used on the irrigated-tip and guarantees the precision of the catheter during the surgical procedure.

Moreover, this new method decreases the need of fluoroscopy technology. Fluoroscopy is a procedure used during surgery to picture in real-time the internal structure of a patient's body through x-ray. This technology gives a better picture of the patient's body as well as the catheters position. It enables the operator to enhance the maneuverability and therefore the efficiency of the surgery. However, ionizing radiations are produced by this technique and can harm the patient. Consequently, surgeons should carefully assess the degree of fluoroscopy needed in order to be efficient and not to impact the patient condition in a negative way.

A study on 172 patients (72% male, 28% female) across 21 centers in a 12-month time proves the effectiveness and safety of the remote magnetic navigation system. Results of the study were conclusive. Researchers found there were no unexpected reactions from the magnetic equipment or from the patients. In addition to the on-site observation, they follow-up each patient for a 12-month period and results show that 72% of the patients were atrial fibrillation free. Another study from the American Heart Association support this result as it monitored 56 patients suffering from atrial fibrillation. Researchers found that the remote-controlled magnetic catheter was as efficient as a manual surgery. In addition, they noted that "Safety improved after a redesign of the catheter".

However, some limits have been noted throughout the study. The equipment needed to perform the surgery is quite cumbersome. Four magnetic terminals have to be installed in the operation theater. In addition, mapping, x-ray and ultrasound, among other substantial equipment, are also needed for the surgery. The room should, therefore, be large enough to welcome the magnetic installation.
Another obstacle is the capacity for medical practitioner to master this new technique. From manual to remote magnetic navigation, the difference is quite significant. The remote magnetic navigation system can be difficult to handle at first. Advanced training is needed to operate with this new equipment.

Overall, this innovative system is safe and allows procedural success for operation in cardiac chamber.
With this advanced technology, doctors are able to navigate precisely even in difficult, narrow, atrial location, reducing the time spent on the surgery and increasing the maneuverability of the catheter. Atrial ablation is a long and sensitive operation. Remote navigation system and an optimized cooling technology on the remote magnetic navigation tool greatly help doctors to be more efficient, save time and energy on the surgery.