MRI-guided robotic catheter to improve treatment for atrial fibrillation
Official title: Improved arrhythmia ablation via MR-guided robotic catheterization and multimodal clinician feedback
Funded at Georgia Institute of Technology · NIH-11307065 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project builds an MRI-compatible robotic catheter and real-time feedback system to help doctors create more complete, lasting ablation lesions for people with atrial fibrillation.
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 | June 26, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $634,755 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB034359-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11307065 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with symptomatic atrial fibrillation who are candidates for catheter radiofrequency ablation and willing to consider an MRI-guided procedure would be the most appropriate candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who cannot undergo MRI (for example, due to incompatible implants), who have AF types not treated with RFA, or who require different therapies may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
The team is developing an MRI-compatible robotic catheter and a navigation feedback system designed to guide the catheter precisely during radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation. The system combines MRI imaging, catheter tracking, and contact-force feedback to find gaps and ensure continuous lesion formation. Developers will test the hardware and software in preclinical settings and refine the system toward use during actual procedures. If it works as intended, the approach aims to reduce gaps that cause AF to come back.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reduce AF recurrence and the need for repeat ablation by enabling more complete and durable heart lesions.
How similar studies have gone: Early MRI-guided cardiac intervention and robotic catheter work has shown promise in preclinical and pilot settings, but integrating continuous intraoperative MRI, robotic navigation, and lesion imaging is a novel combination not yet proven in routine human care.
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.