Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside has enrolled its first patient in a study evaluating an FDA-cleared non-invasive analysis tool that helps doctors visualize arrhythmia hotspots in the heart quickly and accurately.

vMap is a computational analysis tool that uses data from a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) to non-invasively identify where irregular heart rhythms may be coming from within the heart, providing doctors with enhanced information that supports more efficient procedures and better outcomes for patients.

AFib is an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm that can cause stroke and heart failure. It affects more than six million Americans, and, if left untreated, can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.

"Enrolling the first patient in the VITAL-EP study marks an exciting step toward understanding how vMap can strengthen ablation procedures and outcomes," said Dr. Saumil Oza, cardiac electrophysiologist at Ascension St. Vincent's. "By providing a non-invasive view of arrhythmia drivers before and during procedures, vMap has the potential to help us target ablation more effectively, shorten procedure times, and reduce fluoroscopy exposure."

vMap is the only FDA-cleared, non-invasive arrhythmia analysis tool that uses a standard 12-lead ECG to localize both focal and fibrillation-type arrhythmias in all four chambers of the heart in under a minute. It was developed by Vektor Medical.

"The launch of the VITAL-EP study demonstrates our commitment to generating high-quality evidence that reflects the realities of today's EP labs," said Rob Krummen, CEO of Vektor Medical. "We're grateful to Ascension St. Vincent's for participating in the study and leading patient enrollment. The data generated from the study will help physicians better identify how vMap can improve patient outcomes and enhance procedural efficiencies."