Abbott和GE达成协议，将Abbott的RhythmView心脏实时成像系统软件与GE的CardioLab电生理记录系统结合，收集患者心电数据快速查明房颤来源。

Abbott and GE join forces for atrial fibrillation Dx

Abbott ($ABT) and GE Healthcare ($GE) are teaming up for a diagnostics collaboration aimed at improving treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation, planning to combine the companies' innovative technology to speed up diagnosis for individuals with heart rhythm disorders.

The companies will channel electrogram signal data from GE's CardioLab electrophysiology recording system into Abbott's RhythmView mapping software, collecting electrical data from patients' hearts to quickly pinpoint sources of atrial fibrillation, Abbott said in statement. The system offers an advantage over traditional testing methods, as it takes into account each individual's physiology to offer a diagnosis.

"Determining the source of heart arrhythmia disorders requires assistance from intuitive, accurate and reliable equipment," David Tolan, global product manager of electrophysiology at GE Healthcare, said in a statement. "By leveraging the existing capabilities of GE's CardioLab to extract and send saved data to the RhythmView System, doctors have a comprehensive tool to help give them the confidence to quickly diagnose the source of heart rhythm disorders, help improve outcomes and increase patient satisfaction."

The partnership provides a shot of good news for Abbott, as it looks to gain ground in electrophysiology and recover from less-than-stellar numbers for its medical device business last year. In October 2014, Abbott snatched up electrophysiology startup Topera for $250 million plus undisclosed milestones, getting its hands on the companies' technologies for more efficient diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation. The company the same month also secured the right to buy Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics, inheriting its catheter for ablation procedures.

Abbott could use a boost, with sales for its medical device business dropping 5.7% to $4 billion during the first 9 months of 2014. But the company is working hard to revive its sagging fortunes, generating positive numbers for its continuous glucose monitor and launching new diabetes devices to keep its ship afloat.