Johnson & Johnson’s electrophysiology-focused Biosense Webster division, makers of heart-mapping hardware and ablation catheters to treat cardiac arrhythmias, has launched a new cloud-based network to link up the field’s myriad devices and share the data used in practice.
Biosense Webster’s CARTONET platform aims to let doctors and health systems easily communicate and review case information—such as videos and 3D image files obtained during ablation procedures, including from the company’s CARTO 3 mapping system—and make the data accessible on any laptop computer or tablet.
A clinical dashboard also provides statistics on case volume, lab utilization and procedural efficiency, among other metrics, the company said. Case and research data may be shared between institutions, as well.
“There are thousands of CARTO 3 systems throughout the world containing data that could unlock new clinical insights, refinements to procedures, and personalized education and training,” Biosense Webster Worldwide President Uri Yaron said in a statement (PDF).
“CARTONET is the key to that vast data and we are confident it will be an ongoing source of meaningful innovation to elevate the standard of care,” Yaron added. The network, built on Siemens Healthineers’ HIPAA-compliant Teamplay cloud platform, was unveiled at the annual scientific sessions conference of the Heart Rhythm Society.
Biosense Webster also announced initial results from a first-in-human study of an ablation catheter that delivers quick, high-powered bursts of radiofrequency energy to treat atrial fibrillation that hasn’t responded to drug therapies. The findings were presented at the Heart Rhythm Society’s conference and were published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.
The QDOT Micro catheter showed safety and efficacy in isolating pulmonary veins in patients with symptomatic afib in a three-month study, the company said (PDF), while demonstrating shorter overall procedure and radiation-exposure times compared to conventional catheters.
The QDOT Micro is an irrigated, contact-force catheter that delivers up to 90 watts of RF power in under four seconds. Typical irrigated catheters involve the use of 20 to 40 watts of power over a period of 20 to 40 seconds, according to Biosense Webster. Researchers said additional studies are needed to assess lesion durability and long-term outcomes.