Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation Physician Researchers Were First in Minnesota to Use New, FDA-Approved Device to Treat Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

We’re proud of our physician research partners from Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute (AHMHI) and the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF) who performed the first procedure in Minnesota using a new, recently approved system from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib).

Jay Sengupta, MD, FACC, FHRS, Director of MHIF’s Joseph F. Novogratz Family Heart Rhythm Center, led the team at AHMHI who successfully performed the first procedure at Abbott Northwestern Hospital using the Affera™ Mapping and Ablation System with Sphere-9™ Catheter from Medtronic. The system enables physicians to customize treatment based on a patient’s needs during an ablation procedure, providing a life-changing solution for people with AFib.

As many as 10.5 million Americans have atrial fibrillation, a condition of disorganized rhythm in the upper chambers of the heart. The heart rhythm team of researchers at MHIF is committed to pioneering the future of heart rhythm care, elevating the quality and longevity of patient lives. "Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute is proud to be the first in Minnesota – and among the first in the nation – to offer this advanced technology to our patients with persistent AFib," said Dr. Sengupta. "This next generation technology will accelerate and improve quality of life – both physical and mental – for patients suffering from AFib."

Learn more about the Affera System from Allina Health’s announcement, and discover more treatment options and the latest advancements for atrial fibrillation here.