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Catheter treatment is not only effective, but also cost-effective for ischemic stroke

Catheter treatment is not only effective, but also cost-effective for ischemic stroke

29 September 2026

With ischemic stroke, every minute counts. However, many patients do not seek hospital care until it is too late, for example, because symptoms are not immediately recognized or because people wake up with signs of neurological deficits. As a result, a group of patients is no longer eligible for catheter treatment. 

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Platelets: more than a band-aid

Platelets: more than a band-aid

23 September 2026

Some processes in our body might seem obvious to us. If you cut your finger, the bleeding will stop shortly and form a scab. Behind that seemingly simple process hides a sophisticated system of platelets and clotting factors. By now, we know that platelets do much more than halt bleeding: they function as information carriers and regulators of disease processes. 

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Carim Maastricht
Carim Maastricht

Ben Hermans

Post doc

Dr Ben Hermans studied Medical Technology (Dutch: Biometrie) at the Zuyd University for Applied Sciences. After his graduation in 2009, he started to study Technical Medicine at the University of Twente in Enschede. In 2015 he obtained his Master’s degree after finishing his graduation internship at the departments of Biomedical Engineering, Physiology and Cardiology. In September 2015, Ben started as a PhD candidate at the department of Biomedical Engineering under supervision of prof. Delhaas, prof. Pison (Hasselt University) and dr. Postema (Amsterdam UMC). During this time, he focused on improving the diagnosis of Long-QT Syndrome by advanced signal analyses of standard electrocardiograms. After obtaining his PhD in January 2020, Ben started as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Physiology.

Currently, Ben is involved in several projects that focus on improving treatment and/or understanding of atrial fibrillation (AF) by studying electrophysiological properties of the atria. For example, by analysing invasive direct contact mapping data or by analysing non-invasive ECG-imaging. Specific projects of research include validating the use of non-invasive ECG-imaging for atrial arrhythmias or applying new innovative signal-analysis techniques on contact mapping data from AF patients to ultimately find new ablation targets for the treatment of AF.

Ben hermans 5f7d5a2e9ef23

Department of Physiology
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht
Room number: 3.108
T: +31(0)43 388 13 20

  • 2026
    • Bovenkerk, D. S. H., La Fontaine, L. A., Hermans, A. N. L., van Kuijk, S. M. J., Joosten, I. B. T., Faber, C. G., Lankveld, T. A. R., den Uijl, D., Vernooy, K., Hendriks, J. M., Linz, D., & Hermans, B. J. M. (2026). Annual assessment of ECG intervals in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 using a mobile 6-lead ECG device: TeleCheck-DM1. IJC Heart and Vasculature, 66, Article 101996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcha.2026.101996
    • Aerts, L., Norup Hertel, J., Hermans, B. J. M., Luermans, J. G. L., Chaldoupi, S.-M., Lans, R., Saljic, A., Maessen, J. G., Jespersen, T., Linz, D., & Maesen, B. (2026). Analysis of Ablation Curves to Predict Transmural Lesions Using an Epicardial Bipolar Irrigated Radiofrequency Clamp in Pigs and Humans. Innovations: Technology and Techniques in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/15569845261448874
    • Engels, M. D. E. A., Rippens, M., Hermans, B. J. M., Sandgren, E., Luermans, J., Chaldoupi, S.-M., Hendriks, J. M. L., Lankveld, T., Kessels, M., Vorstermans, B. J. G. H., Beukema, R. J., Vernooy, K., Heesen, W., Hermans, A. N. L., & Linz, D. K. (2026). Smartphone app-based symptom assessment in patients with atrial fibrillation on the waiting list for electrical cardioversion: a TeleConvert-atrial fibrillation sub analysis. EP Europace, 28(8), Article euag201. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euag201
    • Sandgren, E., Betz, K., Gawalko, M., Hermans, A., Habibi, Z., Verhaert, D., Philippens, S., Vorstermans, B., Kessels, M., Bovenkerk, D., Hermans, B. J. M., Hendriks, J. M., den Uijl, D., Chaldoupi, S.-M., Luermans, J., Lankveld, T., Schotten, U., Vernooy, K., & Linz, D. (2026). Symptom severity assessment in patients with atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation using a smartphone application. EP Europace, 28(6), Article euag139. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euag139
    • Linz, D., Hertel, J. N., Chaldoupi, S. M., Gil-Ramirez, A., Sattler, S. M., Linz, B., Farnir, F. I. P., Saljic, A., Mohaissen, T., Hermans, B. J. M., Ruwald, M. H., Luermans, J. G. L. M., Keelani, A., Geller, J. C., Raffa, S., Hansen, J., Jespersen, T., & Nissen, S. D. (2026). Monopolar biphasic focal pulsed field ablation directly at the atrioventricular junction and from within the noncoronary cusp: The PFA-CONDUCT study. Heart Rhythm, 23(4), 985-995. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.01.012
    • Habibi, Z., Verhaert, D. V. M., Ozgul, O. F., Betz, K., Hermans, B. J. M., Philippens, S. A. M., Chaldoupi, S.-M., Maesen, B., Sandgren, E., Maessen, J. G., Isaacs, A. J., Westra, S. W., Nijveldt, R., Zeemering, S., Vernooy, K., Linz, D., & Schotten, U. (2026). Pre-procedural time spent in atrial fibrillation using intermittent ECG monitoring is associated with arrhythmia recurrence after ablation: the ISOLATION cohort study. EP Europace, 28(3), Article euag044. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euag044
    • Engels, M. D. E. A., Hermans, A. N. L., Hermans, B. J. M., Luermans, J., Chaldoupi, S.-M., Hendriks, J. M. L., Lankveld, T., Kessels, M. V. M., Vorstermans, B. J. G. H., Beukema, R. J., Vernooy, K., Heesen, W., & Linz, D. K. (2026). Smartphone application-based heart rhythm monitoring to cancel scheduled electrical cardioversion in patients with spontaneous conversion of presumed persistent atrial fibrillation: TeleConvert-AF. European Heart Journal - Digital Health, 7(2), Article ztaf140. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjdh/ztaf140
    • Hermans, B. J., Farnir, F. I., Bijvoet, G. P., Larsen, B. S., Jespersen, T., Jerltorp, K., Holtackers, R. J., Mihl, C., Schotten, U., Vernooy, K., Luermans, J. G., Chaldoupi, S.-M., & Linz, D. (2026). Visualization of monopolar biphasic focal pulsed field ablation lesions 3 months after pulmonary vein isolation on high-resolution 3-dimensional dark-blood late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance images. Heart Rhythm, 23(2), 243-248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2025.07.047
    • Fantazi, N., Hermans, B. J. M., Zeemering, S., Berbers, J., Emrani, M., Napp, A., Marx, N., Gramlich, M., Schotten, U., & Zink, M. D. (2026). Acute effect of cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation on the signal-averaged P-wave. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 12, Article 1728939. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1728939
    • Marques, V. G., Gharaviri, A., Ozgul, O., Pezzuto, S., Auricchio, A., Vernooy, K., Linz, D., Hermans, B., Bonizzi, P., Zeemering, S., & Schotten, U. (2026). Ablation of atrial fibrillation sources identified through sequential high-density mapping: in silico comparison against anatomy-based approaches. EP Europace, 28(1), Article euaf304. https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euaf304
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