Stereotaxis announced the positive results from a study of its robotic magnetic navigation system in atrial fibrillation ablation.

The multi-center, prospective study evaluated 166 patients with paroxysmal or persistent AFib who underwent pulmonary vein isolation using Stereotaxis’ robotic magnetic navigation (RMN) technology or manual contact force ablation catheters. All patients on the study received cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 48 hours before and after the ablation procedure to assess the possibility of cerebral embolism.

Patients treated using RMN had a greater than 82% reduction incidence of silent cerebral embolism (SCE) at 5.77% compared to 32.26% in patients treated with manual catheter ablation, according to the company. The study concluded that “ablation technology is the only independent risk factor of SCEs, and RMN can significantly reduce the incidence of SCEs resulting from AF ablation.”

The study was performed independent of Stereotaxis in China by Wuxi People’s Hospital, Fuwai Hospital, Xuzhou Central Hospital and the first hospital affiliated to Soochow University.

“The results of this study further strengthen the significant safety and efficacy benefits we have experienced using robotic technology to treat over 600 arrhythmia patients,” Dr. Ru-Xing Wang, director of cardiology at Wuxi People’s Hospital in China, said in a news release.

“This pioneering research on an often overlooked aspect of cardiac ablation demonstrates that technology innovation can meaningfully improve patient safety,” Dr. Yan Yao, director of the arrhythmia center at Fuwai Hospital, said. “This strong data supports our decision to build a world-class robotic cardiac center of excellence in Beijing.”

The study was published in the Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine journal.