Robotics in invasive cardiac electrophysiology.

Robotic systems allow for mapping and ablation of different arrhythmia substrates replacing hand maneuvering of intracardiac catheters with machine steering. Currently there are four commercially available robotic systems. Niobe magnetic navigation system (Stereotaxis Inc., St Louis, MO) and Sensei robotic navigation system (Hansen Medical Inc., Mountain View, CA) have an established platform with at least 10 years of clinical studies looking at their efficacy and safety. AMIGO Remote Catheter System (Catheter Robotics, Inc., Mount Olive, NJ) and Catheter Guidance Control and Imaging (Magnetecs, Inglewood, CA) are in the earlier phases of implementations with ongoing feasibility and some limited clinical studies. This review discusses the advantages and limitations related to each existing system and highlights the ideal futuristic robotic system that may include the most promising features of the current ones.

First experience with a novel robotic remote catheter system: Amigo™ mapping trial.

INTRODUCTION: Amigo™ (Catheter Robotics, Inc., Mount Olive, NJ) remote catheter system (RCS) was designed to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive system for remote catheter manipulation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance and safety of Amigo in mapping the right side of the heart. METHODS AND RESULTS: This non-randomized, prospective clinical trial was conducted at 13 sites (NCT: #01139814). Using the controller, a mapping catheter was moved to eight pre-specified locations in a specific sequence: right ventricular apex, mid-right ventricular septum, right ventricular outflow tract, His-bundle position, coronary sinus ostium, high right atrium, lateral tricuspid annulus, and low lateral right atrium. The pre-specified efficacy endpoint was to achieve 80 % successful navigation to all locations. Time to each location, location accuracy, and quality of contact were confirmed by imaging and specific criteria for electrograms and pacing thresholds. In 181 patients, a total of 1,396 of 1,448 (96 %) locations were successfully mapped with all protocol criteria met (one-sided p value < 0.0001). The median time to move the catheter to a new location was 24 s. The Amigo-related major complication rate was 0 % which was significantly less than the predefined endpoint of 4 % (one-sided p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: We found the Amigo RCS to be safe and effective for positioning a mapping catheter at sites within the right atrium and ventricle.

Repositioning of a dislodged and fibrosed ventricular lead.

UNLABELLED: This is a case of a 61 year old African American female with history of end stage renal disease on hemodialysis. She had a dual chamber permanent pacemaker implanted in 2003 for symptomatic bradycardia. Over the past several months the patient had problems with access for dialysis. The right arm AV fistula was occluded. The patient had multiple temporary central catheter placed for dialysis over the past 3 months. The patient was admitted for superior vena-cava syndrome. CT scan of the thorax and neck showed occluded right and left subclavian system. An incidental finding was the right ventricular (RV) lead been dislodged and the tip being in the inferior vena cava. Surgical and non-surgical options were discussed with the patient and she chose to go the less invasive route. The patient underwent a RV lead revision. Using different stylets the RV lead was repositioned in the RV with good pacing and sensing characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Successful repositioning of an old dislodged RV pacing lead using stylets and eliminating the need for invasive procedure like lead extraction.