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NIH funds development of robotic catheter to treat AF

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The NIH has awarded a grant for the development of an MRI-guided co-robotic active catheter to treat patients with atrial fibrillation.

The grant is part of the National Robotics Initiative, a collaboration among several federal agencies to support the development a new generation of robots — “co-robots” — that work cooperatively with people.

The NIH’s National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering awarded a grant to M. Cenk Cavusoglu, PhD, of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, to develop an MRI-guided co-robotic catheter to maintain consistent contact with the heart during AF ablation.

The movement of the heart and unpredictable changes in blood flow can lead to AF ablation procedures that make too large or too small of a lesion, according to information from an NIH press release.

Cavusoglu and colleagues are developing a co-robotic catheter that can compensate for the physiological movements of the heart and blood, and can be used when a patient undergoes MRI. Combining next-generation robotics with high-resolution imaging could lead to better accuracy and repeatability of AF ablation procedures, according to the release.

The NIH also awarded grants to develop a co-robotic cane for the visually impaired and an assistive ankle robot for use in patients recovering from stroke. The combined funding for the three projects totals approximately $2.4 million during the next 5 years, according to the release.

“These projects have the potential to transform common medical aids into sophisticated robotic devices that enhance mobility for individuals with visual and physical impairments in ways only dreamed of before,” NIH director Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, stated in the release. “In addition, as we continue to rely on robots to carry out complex medical procedures, it will become increasingly important for these robots to be able to sense and react to changing and unpredictable movements within the body. By supporting projects that develop these capabilities, we hope to increase the accuracy and safety of current and future medical robots.”