Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute first in Minn., Upper Midwest to use new, FDA-approved device to treat persistent atrial fibrillation

Afferaâ„¢ Mapping and Ablation System shortens surgery times, improves patient outcomes

MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 21, 2025) — Today, Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute (AHMHI) expanded its treatment options for atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients by performing the first procedure in Minnesota and the upper Midwest using a new system that recently received approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a progressive disease that occurs when the heart's upper chambers beat out of rhythm – resulting in blood pumping inefficiently through the body. As the most common atrial arrhythmia – affecting nearly 60 million people worldwidei – it is associated with serious complications including heart failure, stroke and increased risk of death.ii, iii, iv, v

Dr. Jay Sengupta, MD, senior cardiologist, AHMHI, and researcher, Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF), successfully performed the first procedure early this morning at Abbott Northwestern Hospital using the Affera™ Mapping and Ablation System with Sphere-9™ Catheter from Minnesota-based Medtronic.  

What is the Affera System? 

This all-in-one, high-density mapping and dual energy ablation catheter is used for treatment of persistent AFib. It is also used for RF ablation of cavotricuspid isthmus dependent atrial flutter. In clinical trials, patients treated with the Affera system with Sphere-9 catheter experienced improvements in quality of life for both mental and physical well-being.vi

The Affera Mapping and Ablation System enables physicians to customize treatment based on a patient’s needs during an ablation procedure, using different energy sources (pulsed field (PF) and radiofrequency (RF)) and mapping capabilities to correct fast, abnormal heart rhythms. With the increasing number of patients with AFib and the recent U.S. FDA approval, the Affera system has the potential to provide a life-changing solution for people with AFib. 

"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."  

Partnering for Innovation 

"The Affera system allows physicians to map, ablate, and validate all with a single catheter, enhancing the safety of ablation procedures for our patients," said William Katsiyiannis, MD, senior electrophysiologist and president of Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute. "As a national leader in cardiac care, we look forward to continuing groundbreaking work that will improve the lives of those we serve." 

Raed H. Abdelhadi, MD, executive vice president and director of Cardiac Arrhythmia Services at AHMHI added, "The Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute has always been a leader in bringing new and innovative care for our patients and communities. Today was another example of that. This new technology offers unique features that will help us care for patients with complex forms of atrial fibrillation."

Physicians at AHMHI have a long history of innovating in cardiac care. In partnership with the MHIF, AHMHI physicians conduct cutting-edge research and have 230 active research studies and publications ongoing each year. The MHIF Joseph F. Novogratz Family Heart Rhythm Center, led by Dr. Sengupta, drives innovation through the research of new medical devices and works to advance the prevention and treatment of heart arrhythmias like AFib. 

 

affera first case masks

About Allina Health

Allina Health is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A nonprofit health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to end-of-life through its 90+ clinics, 12 hospital campuses, 13 retail pharmacies, and many specialty care centers and specialty medical services, home care, and emergency medical transportation services. Learn more at allinahealth.org and join us on Facebook, XInstagram and LinkedIn.