# Real-Time MRI Guided Robotic Catheter System for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

> **NIH NIH R01** · CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $676,757

## Abstract

Abstract
The purpose of the present study is to design an MRI-guided robotic catheter system to significantly improve
the efficacy of atrial fibrillation ablation interventions. Specifically, in this study, the investigators will develop
an MRI-guided robotic intra-vascular catheter system by synergistically integrating novel real-time MRI, robotic
catheter control, and advanced human-machine interface technologies. The developed robotic system will
seek to eliminate recurrences resulting from inaccurate and insufficient treatment, and complications resulting
from over-treatment by enabling the physician to effectively see, navigate, and control the catheter in relation
to the anatomy. The system will improve the physician's ability to visualize the cardiac anatomy and allow the
physician to evaluate the substrate depth and lesion created in real-time using intraoperative MRI. The precise
and dexterous robotic catheter control will enable the physician to accurately and easily steer the catheter and
maintain robust contact with the atrium to generate a transmural scar and ensure a continuous trajectory
without gaps. The advanced human-machine interface will enable intuitive and dexterous catheter control and
provide the physician with unparalleled situational awareness. The investigators will integrate the developed
technologies into a complete MRI-guided robotic catheter system prototype, and validate them in benchtop
experiments as well as in vivo in a large animal study.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10191032
- **Project number:** 5R01HL153034-02
- **Recipient organization:** CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** M. Cenk Cavusoglu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $676,757
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10191032

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10191032, Real-Time MRI Guided Robotic Catheter System for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation (5R01HL153034-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10191032. Licensed CC0.

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