Videos

Texas Heart Institute’s Electrophysiology Clinical Research & Innovations department (ECRI) is pioneering some of the most ground breaking cardiac arrhythmias research and management today in collaboration with institutions across the US. With a history of firsts in man devices, the next first in cardiac arrhythmia treatments is already happening at the Texas Heart Institute.

Next First in Cardiac Arrhythmia Treatments

The most definitive treatment for arrhythmia is shocking the heart with transcutaneous paddles or implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs). Shocks are both unpredictable and extremely painful, leading to PTSD in a high proportion of patients. Patients with defibrillators may live longer but, because of the painful shocks, they receive, not better. Imperceptible defibrillation has remained the holy grail of the field.

Texas Heart Institute – Leading with the Heart through Collaboration

The THI team excels through a specific focus on translational research that innovates devices and techniques used to detect, manage and treat various cardiac conditions, in particular arrhythmias.

Innovations in Clinical Care: A Clinicians Role

Dr. Mehdi Razavi provides a historical view of devices and techniques used to detect, manage and treat various cardiac arrhythmias today and reviews the current state of translational and clinical research while highlighting the next generation of innovative heart rhythm devices aimed to improve outcomes and quality of life.

Innovating to Make ICDs Less Painful

Dr. Mehdi Razavi and his team in the Electrophysiology Clinical Research & Innovations lab are developing small chips that could improve implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Razavi’s team believes their small chips will not only decrease the size of ICDs, but that they can also provide small shocks that will return the heart to normal rhythm without a patient even noticing.

Developing New Pacemaker Technology

Pacemaker technology currently in use today is relatively old. Doctors and engineers at THI are committed to developing new pacing devices that will eliminate the need for batteries and wires, and most importantly, lessen the pain of the electrical pulse that is delivered by a pacemaker to keep the heart pumping.