The Problem

Arrhythmias are a leading cause of US deaths, which result from disorganized electrical signals within the heart leading to irregular contractions. Ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation are the most serious arrhythmias resulting in 300,000 annual US deaths, followed by 130,000 deaths due to atrial fibrillation (AF). With a prevalence of 6,000,000 in the US alone, AF is the most common arrhythmia, resulting in 750,000 annual hospitalizations. AF therapies first rely on pharmaceuticals to prevent blood clots and to restore rhythm. If these approaches fail, EP catheter-based procedures are performed to destroy tissues disrupting proper electrical signals. Although these procedures can be beneficial, AF recurrence is correlated to lesion quality, which is dependent on catheter tip control and applied force, as well as clinician expertise.