The Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) has announced plans to develop a first-of-its-kind Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) data collection platform (registry), sponsored in part by Johnson & Johnson MedTech. The platform will offer a national, technology-enabled infrastructure designed to advance clinical evidence, improve patient outcomes, and support post-market surveillance for atrial fibrillation (AF) PFA procedures. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 12.1 million people in the United States will live with AF by 2030. Documenting clinical outcomes in nearly real time will transform how AF patients are treated daily. Through advanced automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and direct electronic health record (EHR) integration, the HRS platform aims to minimize manual entry of data, dramatically reduce site burden, and accelerate evidence generation to support clinicians, researchers, and regulatory agencies.  

“The development of the HRS PFA data collection platform represents a turning point in how we study and treat atrial fibrillation,” HRS President Mina K. Chung, M.D., said. “By combining cutting-edge technology with a national infrastructure, we are creating opportunities to not only reduce the burden on clinical sites but also deliver regulatory-grade evidence needed to guide innovations, inform policy, and improve patient care. This initiative will ensure that every procedure contributes to a deeper understanding of atrial fibrillation and helps shape the future of cardiac care.” 

The new HRS PFA data collection platform is designed to generate regulatory-grade evidence suitable for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other evaluations. By establishing an enduring infrastructure for multi-study use, the platform will accelerate research and expand the evidence base for arrhythmia management. The public health impact is expected to be significant, advancing both clinical practice and patient outcomes.  

The development of the HRS platform supports its strategic plan to elevate awareness and safety of PFA technologies, empower clinicians through data-driven insights, and drive innovation in electrophysiology and cardiac care. HRS plans to launch the pilot program early this year, expanding to full-scale implementation in 2027. 

The Heart Rhythm Society is the international leader in science, education, and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients and is the primary information resource on heart rhythm disorders. Its mission is to improve the care of patients by promoting research, education, and optimal healthcare policies and standards. Incorporated in 1979 and based in Washington, D.C., it has a membership of more than 9,000 heart rhythm professionals from 94 countries.