World's first successful cardiac defibrillation during an MRI scan – a milestone in medical technology

The successful implementation marks an important step towards an even closer integration of diagnosis and treatment. Whilst cardiac procedures – such as ablations – previously had to be carried out under X-ray guidance, this project impressively demonstrates that therapeutic procedures can also be performed safely within an MRI environment.
A key advantage over previous methods lies in the complete avoidance of ionising radiation. Treatment within the MRI environment, by contrast, involves no significant radiation exposure and thus represents a significantly gentler alternative for patients and the practitioner alike.
“With this first successful MRI-guided cardioversion in a human patient, we have been able to demonstrate that our technology not only works in theory but also delivers convincing results in clinical practice,” emphasises project leader Adrian Freitag. “This is a crucial milestone for the further development of minimally invasive and image-guided procedures.”

A particular challenge was to ensure that all components were MRI-compatible whilst simultaneously meeting the highest standards of safety and functionality. This was achieved through close collaboration between the development, engineering and user teams.
The project was carried out in close cooperation with Herzzentrum Dresden GmbH University Hospital at Dresden University of Technology. Special thanks are due to Prof. Dr med. habil. Sergio Richter, Dr med. Stefan Ulbrich and Ms Anastasia Hankel, who played a key role in the successful implementation and clinical execution of the project.
The accompanying photograph shows part of the project team. On the left of the picture are Dr Stefan Ulbrich and Anastasia Hankel. On the right is Adrian Freitag (Project Manager, Product Development), alongside Daniel Contag (Technical Sales and Service/Vigilance Manager), who played a key role in the realisation of this innovative project.
This successful application underscores MIPM’s innovative strength and demonstrates the potential of MRI-guided therapy for future applications. The aim is to further develop patient-friendly procedures and set new standards in medical care.