Philips, Imricor Debut MR-Guided Cardiac Intervention Solution

Philips and Imricor Medical Systems have released a new Interventional MR (iMR) lab solution for Philips 1.5T MR.

The first configuration merges Philips’ 1.5T MRI platform and Imricor’s portfolio of iMR systems and consumables. According to the duo, this can enable MR-guided workflow for cardiac intervention without compromising on MR field strength.

Cardiac arrhythmias affect millions worldwide, and catheter ablation is an increasingly common treatment for complex cases. However, these procedures still rely largely on X-ray fluoroscopy, which provides limited soft-tissue visualization while exposing patients and clinical teams to ionizing radiation.

MRI has transformed cardiac diagnosis with detailed views of anatomy and tissue. Extending that capability to intervention could enable more precise therapy guidance, real-time assessment of treatment response, and identification of potential therapy gaps before the procedure ends—all in a radiation-free iMR environment.

The initial configuration includes Philips’ Cardiac MR Suite, SmartHeart AI-powered cardiac planning and imaging applications, and Imricor’s NorthStar iMR mapping and guidance system, Advantage-MR EP Recorder/Stimulator, and Vision-MR electrophysiology catheters. Together, the technologies support cardiac visualization, catheter tracking, electroanatomical mapping, lesion assessment, and treatment-response evaluation.

The turnkey solution uses Philips’ BlueSeal helium-free MRI technology, which can simplify site planning and enable installation closer to cardiology departments. The iMR lab solution will be showcased at ESC Congress 2026 in Munich and is immediately available in CE-marked markets and select U.S. configurations.

Comments from Philips and Imricor execs

Ioannis Panagiotelis, Ph.D., Business Leader, Magnetic Resonance, Philips: “Our ambition is not only to advance what clinicians can see with MRI, but also what they can do with it. Philips has a long history of helping clinicians perform image-guided procedures with confidence, and we believe MRI can play an even greater role in providing care. With this new iMR lab solution, enabled through our collaboration with Imricor, we’re expanding the role of cardiac MRI from diagnosis into the treatment environment.”

Steve Wedan, founder and CEO, Imricor: “With interventional MR, the idea is not to move procedures into diagnostic MRI suites, but rather to bring MR imaging into the procedure room, a room we call an iMR lab. Our collaboration with Philips has always been driven by this shared vision, and with our combined iMR lab solution, that vision becomes a reality today. Pairing Philips’ world-class 1.5T MR platform with Imricor’s exclusive portfolio of advanced iMR systems and interventional tools creates the world’s first state-of-the-art high-performance iMR lab solution. We believe the future is about advanced image guidance for therapies and interventions, and the future is here now.”