Patients at risk of ventricular tachycardia, the primary cause of sudden cardiac death, commonly undergo catheter ablation to cauterize the areas within myocardial scars responsible for arrythmias. However, the initial phase of the intervention devoted to identifying the ablation targets currently involves the intra-cardiac insertion of a mapping catheter. This diagnostic mapping is characterized for being invasive, often inaccurate, and time-consuming. Pre-operative implementation of 3D cardiac imaging approaches to provide detailed structural information on ablation targets could overcome the shortcomings of standard catheter-based mapping.
During the ERC Starting Grant ECSTATIC (2017-2022), we had developed a novel 3D image-processing technology (MAP-IN-HEART) which allows cardiologists to locate VT ablation targets and guide ablation procedures in a non-invasive, highly precise and rapid manner using widely available cardiac CT images, without the need for a mapping catheter. In this ERC PoC project, we investigated the technical feasibility of the innovative MAP-IN-HEART approach by assessing its efficiency and safety in a limited proof of concept clinical study. Moreover, we ensured Freedom-To-Operate and explored all the potential paths for commercialization to finally develop a viable business strategy. Lastly, we gained technical and commercial proof-of-concept, providing the necessary information for potential commercialization routes.
The impact of MAP-IN-HEART were significant, allowing us to obtain funding to conduct a randomized controlled trial across 16 European centres comparing this novel image-guided approach to the conventional catheter-based technique (EIT Health InEurHeart). The project was also key to implement a viable business strategy to commercialize the technology, leveraging on the start-up inHEART. These results pave the way towards more efficient, effective and available therapy in patients presenting with post-infarction ventricular tachycardia.
