Abbott, GE Healthcare ink afib deal

May 13, 2015 By Brad Perriello

Abbott (NYSE:ABT) and General Electric (NYSE:GE) today said they inked a deal to integrate a pair of technologies designed to detect and map atrial fibrillation.

The deal calls for Abbott to integrate GE Healthcare’s CardioLab electrophysiology recording system into the RhythmView mapping software it acquired when it bought Topera Medical last year.

The companies claimed the combined technologies marks the 1st time physicians will be able to use instantaneous electrical heart data to diagnose atrial fibrillation sources.

"At Abbott, we are excited about collaborating with GE to help doctors more quickly diagnose the source of heart rhythm disorders with innovative technologies that combine the expertise and heritage of each company in improving patient care," electrophysiology vice president Mike Pederson said in prepared remarks.

David Tolan, electrophysiology global product manager for GE Healthcare, added that proper diagnosis of arrhythmias requires "intuitive, accurate, and reliable equipment."

"By leveraging the existing capabilities of GE’s CardioLab to extract and send saved data to the RhythmView System, doctors have a comprehensive tool to help give them the confidence to quickly diagnose the source of heart rhythm disorders, help improve outcomes and increase patient satisfaction," Tolan said.

Abbott paid $250 million up front and put another, unspecified amount on the table for Topera last December. Menlo Park, Calif.-based Topera won 510(k) clearance from the FDA in January 2014 for the latest incarnation of its 3D mapping system, including the RhythmView workstation and FIRMap diagnostic catheter. The imaging system uses electrical signals, captured by a multipolar electrophysiology catheter, to create 3D images mapping out cardiac arrhythmias.

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