Real-Time Cardiac Visualisation without X-rays
Imricor Medical Systems, Inc. announced the commercial availability of its NorthStar Mapping System in the United States on 23rd April 2026. As the first cardiac mapping and guidance technology utilising magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, it eliminates the need for X-ray fluoroscopy in interventional procedures.
Physicians using the NorthStar Mapping System benefit from a comprehensive software environment that visualizes the heart’s structure and tissue characteristics in real-time. This advancement signifies a departure from traditional X-ray fluoroscopy, which offers limited soft-tissue visualization and exposes patients to ionizing radiation.
“Launching NorthStar in the U.S. is a pivotal development for Imricor as we enter the world’s most advanced and influential healthcare market. We are bringing a truly differentiated solution to physicians,” said Greg Englehardt, Imricor’s VP of Global Sales.
Innovative MR Imaging Technology
NorthStar transforms MR systems into dynamic tools that allow real-time visualization and manipulation during procedures. Doctors can see interventional tools and heart tissue characteristics as the procedure unfolds, a capability not previously available in clinical settings.
Imricor will showcase the NorthStar Mapping System at the Heart Rhythm Society Annual Scientific Sessions starting on 24th April in Chicago, Illinois. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the system and its capabilities.
Steve Wedan, CEO of Imricor, commented, “Imricor has pioneered the field of interventional MR, and we are committed to delivering a fully-realized ecosystem for cardiac interventional MR procedures. NorthStar represents the clearest expression of this vision.”
NorthStar harnesses the full imaging power of MR to visualize the heart, tissue characteristics, and interventional tools throughout an entire procedure. Unlike traditional methods, this system transforms an MR system from a ‘still camera’ taking pictures to a ‘video camera’ viewed and manipulated in real time.
Interventional procedures have depended on X-ray fluoroscopy for guidance for decades, offering limited soft-tissue visualization and exposing patients and staff to radiation. Sensor-based tools were developed to provide some context of the heart’s geometry, but NorthStar surpasses these by leveraging MR imaging.
According to Imricor, NorthStar’s introduction in the U.S. sets a precedent for advancing interventional MR technology. The system’s capability to provide real-time soft-tissue visualization and zero radiation is expected to drive early adoption across key medical centers.
