MURRAY, Utah (ABC4 Utah) - Heart doctors at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray are the first in Utah to perform a treatment for patients suffering from a common heart condition using an advanced robotic system and technology that enhances precision and safety for patients. 

Heart doctors at Intermountain Medical Center are among the first in the world – and the first in Utah – to use the Stereotaxis Genesis robotic system to perform cardiac ablation, a common minimally invasive procedure to treat patients suffering from arrhythmias. 

Tens of millions of individuals worldwide suffer from arrhythmias – abnormal heart rhythms that result when the heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or with an irregular pattern. When left untreated, arrhythmias may significantly increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, and sudden cardiac arrest.

“Delivering outstanding patient care using the best technology and science is our primary focus at Intermountain,” said Michael Cutler, DO, regional medical director of cardiac electrophysiology for Intermountain Health and cardiac electrophysiologist at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. “For 15 years, our electrophysiology team has leveraged the precision and safety of robotics when treating cardiac arrhythmia patients. We are excited to enhance that commitment to patients with the latest advances in technology using the Genesis System.” 

In a typical procedure, a small, specialized tube called a catheter is inserted into a vein in the leg and navigated to the heart. It’s used to diagnose the arrhythmia and to deliver energy that isolates misbehaving heart muscle cells. 

In a traditional cardiac ablation procedure, the physician manipulates the catheter by hand from the catheter's handle on the opposite end from the tip. 

Robotic magnetic navigation introduces the benefits of robotic precision and safety to cardiac ablation. In robotic cardiac ablation, magnets in the catheter allow for direct control of the catheter tip. 

Robotic ablation uses magnetic fields and robotic precision to navigate a magnetic catheter inside the heart, directly from the tip. The technology consists of two robotically controlled magnets next to the operating table. During the procedure, the physician precisely directs and steers the ablation catheter safely through the delicate anatomy of the heart using intuitive computer software. 

Robotics allows the ablation catheter to reach the exact points where it is needed, wherever that may be. Because a magnetic catheter is controlled from the tip, it is very precise. 

Sponsored by Intermountain Health.