Robotic Innovations in Cardiac Electrophysiology

Two decades ago, robotic technologies were first introduced in the treatment of arrhythmias by catheter ablation. Currently, robotic magnetic navigation (RMN) is the most widely used robotic technology in the field. In the current thesis, the latest developments of RMN guided catheter ablation are studied. For example, we investigated a new feature that provides feedback on the quality of the contact between the ablation catheter and the myocardium. In addition, we investigated various applications of the RMN system in combination with dipole density mapping in the treatment of atrial fibrillation and atrial tachycardia. Furthermore, a new way of working with the RMN system in the ablation of atrial fibrillation was described, which also led to improved outcomes in a multi-center study. Compared to the manual approach, robotic ablation appeared to have improved outcomes in the treatment of children with various arrhythmias. Finally, a consensus document was presented delineating practical recommendations on RMN guided ablation. This thesis contributes to the further implementation of robotic technologies in the daily practice of cardiac electrophysiology.