Understanding the Function and Importance of Electrophysiology Devices

When the beat of your heart gets out of sync, or encounters other electrical problems, there are an array of devices and procedures available to help keep your heart pumping right. Cardiac electrophysiology devices and techniques are used to treat and diagnose electrical-related problems with your heart. From pacemakers to electrocardiograms (EKG), health care providers can keep your heart healthy or identify potentially life-threatening problems using electrophysiology.

The experts at the Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute (CVRTI) have years of experience in all aspects of heart health care and keep up with the latest electrophysiological advancements. Our researchers are also active in developing next generation procedures and improving the efficiency of current electrophysiology techniques.

Pacemaker Devices Help Your Heart Get Back Up to Speed

Pacemakers are probably the first medical device that comes to mind for most people when they think about the electrical activity of the heart. These small, surgically-implanted devices send small jolts to the heart to make sure it is beating properly. The battery-powered devices are designed to help people whose hearts beat too slowly.

It takes a minor surgical procedure to implant a pacemaker below the collar bone and requires a short hospital stay. Rare side effects include infection, though other complications can occur.

How EKGs Reveal Your Heart Health

The cardiac electrical system involves a carefully synchronized effort to make sure muscles and other components work together to move blood through the heart to the rest of the body. This electrical system is responsible for controlling the rate and rhythm of your heartbeat. The sinus node is the leader of the heart’s electrical orchestra. This node, a collection of tissues, is located in the upper right chamber of the heart, or the right atrium. Electrical signals coordinate movement throughout the heart so blood can move through all four chambers.

Heart Neurons and Electrophysiology Research

While neurons are most commonly associated with the brain, they can be located in other parts of the body. The heart has what is known as the intrinsic cardiac nervous system. Some researchers refer to these neurons as the heart’s “little brain”. Electrophysiology research is being used to better understand the science behind roles neurons play in the heart’s electrical system.

Electrophysiology is the scientific study of the electrical properties of living cells and tissues, and covers heart and brain research. For the heart, this emerging field seeks to better understand ion channels, which are integral membrane proteins that have pathways for ions to travel through. These channels play an important role in regulating the electrical system for a normal heart rhythm. CVRTI researchers are actively engaged in research surrounding ion channel biology.

Electrophysiological Studies and Diagnosing Arrhythmia

In addition to being an active area of research, electrophysiology is also used in diagnosing heart conditions. Known as an electrophysiology study, surgeons insert a catheter into a blood vessel that leads to your heart. Electrodes are placed in heart tissue to send electrical signals and measure the resulting activity. This can help health care providers better diagnose arrhythmias.

While considered to be a safe procedure, there is some risk of experiencing an arrhythmia during the procedure, having a heart attack or causing damage to a heart valve. [TH1] sure to consult with your health care provider to see if your medical history may impact whether to undergo a specific treatment. Your provider will work closely with you to weigh the benefits and risks of any given procedure or treatment.

CVRTI: On The Cutting Edge of Cardiac Electrophysiology Research

CVRTI investigators are working to develop new ways to treat heart arrhythmias and help safeguard heart health through an understanding of biology and proteins involved in the heart’s electrical system. Investigators are developing innovative methods to treat heart arrhythmias and stop them from happening in the first place. Our researchers aim to safeguard heart health through the understanding of channels, biology, and membrane proteins involved in the heart’s electrical system.

Advancing Medical Research to Improve Heart Function

Whether it is our own research or new studies from the world’s top experts, CVRTI is committed to advancing discoveries that lead to the best treatments, medical devices and diagnostics available for patients. Explore the CVRTI website to learn more about our cutting-edge scientific research in heart health and the development of improved treatments for enhanced heart function.