MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The WVU Heart and Vascular Institute is the first in the state and region to offer the Affera™ Mapping and Ablation System with the Sphere-9™ Catheter ablation technology to more precisely address heart rhythm disorders, including atrial fibrillation or AFib.
“The Affera system is next generation and will likely significantly add to our existing procedure offerings to combat heart rhythm disorders,” David Schwartzman, M.D., director of Cardiac Electrophysiology at the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute.
The Affera System enables physicians to customize treatment based on a patient’s needs during a percutaneous catheter ablation procedure, using different energy sources and mapping capabilities to correct fast, abnormal heart rhythms. It is an all-in-one high-density mapping and dual-energy ablation (pulsed field and radiofrequency) catheter.
“We are continuing to seek new ways to innovate, particularly with the most common disorders we treat, like atrial fibrillation,” George Sokos, D.O., chair of the Department of Cardiology, said. “Our aim is to embrace all new technology with thoughtful implementation to maximize both patient safety and clinical effectiveness.”
The first Affera procedure was performed on Tuesday (May 6) to address atrial fibrillation, the most common abnormality of heart rhythm.
“At the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, we remain focused on providing the most advanced approaches to all cardiovascular disorders, including our team approach to atrial fibrillation,” Vinay Badhwar, M.D., executive chair of the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, said. “The introduction of the Affera technology is the most recent step on our journey to improve the outcomes of our patients deemed most appropriate for catheter treatments.”
The WVU Heart and Vascular Institute is one of the nation’s top programs for the comprehensive management of AFib. The WVU Medicine Center for Atrial Fibrillation is the state’s only program with truly dedicated multidisciplinary expertise – electrophysiologists, cardiologists, and heart surgeons – all focused on treating each patient’s individual needs.
The Center’s experts are:
- Writers of current national guidelines for the management of AFib
- International leaders on teaching others how to manage AFib
- Leaders in robotic-assisted surgical ablation of AFib with the best long-term results in the nation
- The most experienced multidisciplinary team with all treatments of AFib in West Virginia
- Leaders in new clinical trials involving innovative therapy for AFib
- Procedural leaders who regularly use novel devices, including emerging new techniques and devices that are not offered anywhere else in the state
For more information, visit WVUMedicine.org/AFib or call 855-WVU-CARE to schedule an appointment.
© 2025 Copyright – West Virginia University Health System
