OTTAWA, October 31, 2024 - First in the Americas, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute has performed ablation procedures using technology designed to improve precision and efficiency in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF).
At the heart of the milestone is the VARIPULSE™ Platform from Johnson & Johnson MedTech. Among its components are an advanced catheter, generator and cardiac mapping system for delivering what is called pulsed field ablation (PFA), an emerging approach in electrophysiology. The platform enables an intuitive and reproducible workflow with real-time visualization and feedback mechanisms.
“Pulsed field ablation catheter therapy uses short bursts of high energy to treat heart tissue that causes atrial fibrillation, an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm," said Dr. Girish Nair, an electrophysiologist and director of the cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmia service at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, and part of the team that performed the procedure. "This novel approach to atrial fibrillation treatment enables care providers to deliver energy more selectively, reducing the risk of complications and offering our patients an even safer and more efficient treatment option."
By selectively ablating myocardial tissue while sparing surrounding structures, PFA offers new possibilities for improving procedural safety and patient outcomes. The deployment of the VARIPULSE™ Platform at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute demonstrates the potential of this technology to redefine AF treatment.
“We apply technology as an important tool that can enhance the human touch to improve patient care,” said Dr. Rob Beanlands, president and CEO of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. “The deployment of this new atrial fibrillation treatment is a testament to our team’s commitment to innovation and excellence in patient-centred care.”
To learn more, read the Johnson & Johnson MedTech news release.
About the University of Ottawa Heart Institute
The University of Ottawa Heart Institute stands as one of Canada’s most distinguished heart health centres for the unparalleled care it provides to its patients, a world-renowned research institute that brings science from bench to bedside, and the country’s main influencer when it comes to preventing heart disease. Its promise remains the very pillar on which it was built: Always putting patients first.
Media contact
Leigh B. Morris
Communications Officer
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
613-316-6409 (cell)
lmorris@ottawaheart.ca