Rhythmia Medical Highlights Studies to be Presented at Heart Rhythm Society 2011 Annual Scientific Session

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Rhythmia Medical, Inc.

Apr 28, 2011, 01:37 ET

BURLINGTON, Mass., April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Rhythmia Medical Inc., announced today that key results from its ongoing pre-clinical and clinical studies will be presented at the 2011 Annual Scientific Session of the Heart Rhythm Society in San Francisco, CA. The results will highlight the performance of Rhythmia Medical's mapping system, a technological breakthrough that can significantly improve cardiac ablation procedures by generating high resolution electroanatomical maps faster, simpler and more accurately.

The following presentations are planned:

"New System for Rapid, High-Resolution Automated Mapping in Patients with Macroreentrant Atrial Tachycardia/Flutter"
Dr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, Director of the Clinical Catheter Ablation Program and Translational Electrophysiology at the University of Oklahoma , will present the initial results from the first in man clinical trial using the system for mapping macroreentrant atrial tachycardia and atrial flutter in the session "New Technologies Facilitating Successful Catheter Ablation" on Thursday, May 5, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. in Moscone West room 2002.
Dr. Nakagawa will present results from initial investigational studies performed with the cooperation of Professor Josef Kautzner and his team at the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM) in Prague.  The study included patients with Atrial Fibrillation, Atrial Tachycardia and Atrial Flutter.

"New System for Rapid, High-Resolution Automated Electroanatomical Mapping: Evaluation in a Canine Atrial Incision Model"
Dr. Hiroshi Nakagawa will present the poster for this pre-clinical study in canines demonstrating the potential of the system to rapidly identify areas of conduction block in the right atrium after linear lesions are created surgically and by ablation. This poster session will be featured on Thursday, May 5, 9:00 AM -12:00 PM. The presentation will show the resolution and performance of the Rhythmia system in this complex experimental model.

Cardiac arrhythmia affects more than 7.5 million people in the United States and Europe, and is a life- threatening condition that can lead to stroke or heart failure. Catheter ablation procedures, currently performed at a rate of over 500,000 per year, represent a $2 billion market with one of the fastest growth rates in medical devices.

The new research provides new insight into the capability of the Rhythmia Medical's mapping system to support catheter ablation procedures by providing a highly accurate electroanatomical map within minutes. "Mapping accuracy is critically important to make sure we can correctly identify the optimal ablation target to minimize unnecessary ablation and avoid repeat procedures. The ability to quickly generate such high resolution maps with minimal operator involvement during mapping will enhance the way Electrophysiologists perform catheter ablation in the future," said Dr. Warren M. (Sonny) Jackman of the University of Oklahoma who participated in the studies.

Rhythmia Medical's mapping system is an investigational device and is not available for sale in the United States.

About Rhythmia Medical

Founded in 2004, Rhythmia Medical, Inc. is developing a next generation Mapping, Visualization and Navigation system for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. The company recently began human clinical testing outside the US and is working with several of the leading clinicians in this field around the world. The Burlington, Massachusetts-based venture-backed company has raised $19 million of financing. Additional information can be found at www.rhythmia.com

SOURCE Rhythmia Medical, Inc.