Dexterous needle ablation for ventricular arrhythmia guided by MRI
Official title: Improved treatment of intramural ventricular arrhythmia using robot-assisted MRI-guided intramyocardial needle ablation
Funded at Georgia Institute of Technology · NIH-11450570 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new MRI-guided, robot-assisted catheter delivers deeper heart tissue ablation to treat ventricular tachycardia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $808,511 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL183894-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450570 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with ventricular tachycardia due to scar-related heart disease who have failed conventional ablation or are at high risk for VT recurrence.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without VT or with anatomy unsuitable for intramyocardial needle ablation may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a flexible, needle-based ablation catheter and robotic control system that uses MRI navigation to treat dangerous VT. By reaching deeper tissue within the left ventricle, it seeks to overcome limitations of traditional endocardial ablation that misses intramural targets. The approach combines advanced catheter design with real-time imaging to map ablation sites during the procedure and improve precision. If successful, patients with VT could experience fewer recurrences and safer, shorter procedures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce VT recurrences and improve survival by more effectively eliminating problematic heart tissue.
How similar studies have gone: Prior intramyocardial needle ablation approaches showed promise but are limited by navigation and imaging challenges; MRI-guided robotic control is advancing this field.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Yue — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Chen, Yue
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.