Magnetecs, an Inglewood, California firm, received the European CE Marking for its Robotic Catheter Guidance Control and Imaging (CGCI) System. The technology involves eight remotely controlled electromagnets that guide the movement of a magnetically-tipped EP catheter, providing precise movement with great dexterity. The display intelligently provides validation of anatomy, EP, and precise visualization of the intended work area as well as real-time display of tool location. Automated mapping of the cardiac chamber of interest removes the repetitive task of manual mapping, thereby shortening the duration of the procedure and increasing the accuracy of the generated map. Since all the imaging, tool location and control operates in the digital realm, the entire procedure is stored and available for review and playback.
According to Josh Shachar, CEO of Magnetecs, the European regulatory decision will allow the company to apply its technology “for electrophysiology and interventional cardiology as well as additional fields of use.”
More about the system from the product page:
The CGCI system has two standard modes of control: Manual Magnetic mode and Automatic Magnetic control mode. The joystick-controlled Manual Magnetic mode provides a responsive way to direct the catheter tip about the chamber. The Automatic Magnetic mode gives the operator point-and-click targeting of map locations. In Automatic Magnetic mode, the CGCI logic routines plan a path to the targeted location, determine the optimal contact direction, and guide the catheter tip until it makes firm and continuous tissue contact. The CGCI system uses the static map geometry to plan a guidance path that will bring the catheter tip into contact with the moving tissue as it passes through the selected map location. The CGCI then uses tissue-contact sensing filters to continue advancing the tip until continuous contact is reached over the entire cardiac cycle. If the catheter slips from the location, the tissue-contact sensing system immediately alerts the operator and the magnetic field regulator, and the tip is quickly guided back into contact at the desired tissue location. If an obstacle is detected, the location is automatically marked, and a new path is planned to tissue contact.
Press release: Magnetecs CGCI Receives CE Marking for Sales in Europe
Product page: CGCI…