Milwaukee, Wis. – Building on its rich history as a leader in heart health innovation, Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center became the first hospital in the United States to use a new three dimensional cardiac mapping system to treat heart rhythm disorders like atrial fibrillation, also known as AFIB.
APN Health’s Navik 3D mapping system was installed in early March 2018, and the first case treating a patient using the technology occurred on March 22, 2018. Jasbir Sra, M.D., an internationally recognized cardiac electrophysiologist with Aurora Health Care and vice president of Aurora Heart and Vascular Services, led the procedure, and also helped to develop the technology as a managing member of APN Health.
Navik 3D is the first cardiac mapping technology that does not require specialized equipment. It is compatible with any fluoroscopic imaging, mapping and ablation catheter to identify catheter locations in the heart and create three dimensional maps of the chamber of interest.
“At Aurora Health Care, we continue to look for ways to deliver the best in heart care to patients from around the world,” said Dr. Sra. “To be the first facility in the world to use the new technology reinforces to our patients and the state of Wisconsin our commitment to medical excellence.”
Developed and studied with assistance from Aurora Research Institute, the new technology uses advanced algorithms to allow physicians throughout the world to more easily, accurately, and confidently complete their procedures by pinpointing the exact location in the heart’s chambers that are experiencing the arrhythmias.
“Having partnered with APN Health to conduct the studies that led to FDA clearance of this tool, we are thrilled to see it put into practice,” said Randall Lambrecht, PhD, president of Aurora Research Institute.
More than five million Americans suffer from heart arrhythmias each year, with AFIB being the most common.
“As we look at more effective ways to treat patients, this type of technology will likely allow clinicians around the world use it because it doesn’t require some of the equipment that previous treatment methods required,” noted Sra. “It could be a major advancement in the treatment of arrhythmias.
Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center will be one of five hospitals worldwide to initially use the technology in the first part of 2018, including facilities in Illinois, California, and India.
Aurora Health Care’s world-renowned heart and vascular team consists of specialists who use state-of-the-art tools and technologies to provide early diagnosis and advanced cardiac care, including surgical and non-surgical treatment options, as well as hybrid heart procedures.