Versatility of a Circular Multielectrode Catheter in the Individualized Recognition & Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation and Related Arrhythmias Using Pulsed Field Energy
Versatility of a Circular Multielectrode Catheter in the Individualized Recognition & Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation and Related Arrhythmias Using Pulsed Field Energy
The purpose of this pragmatic study is to evaluate the safety, performance and effectiveness of the VARIPULSE catheter technology used in combination with the TRUPULSE™ Generator, and the compatible EAM system (Carto 3D) to treat patients with atrial fibrillation and related arrhythmias during clinically-indicated ablation procedures.
By virtue of its efficiency, safety profile, and potential for improved efficacy in certain patient populations (e.g., thickened atrial tissue of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients), there is tremendous excitement about the role of pulsed field ablation (PFA) to treat atrial fibrillation and related arrhythmias. However, most PFA clinical trials enroll very selected populations and have highly focused inclusion/exclusion criteria - for example, typically only paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with upper age criteria are included, other disease states such as HCM are excluded, and typically redo ablation procedures are also excluded. The latter is particularly problematic since redo procedures are quite prevalent in most physicians' clinical practice.
In some sense, the incorporation of these restrictive criteria is not terribly surprising since most of the novel PFA catheters are specifically designed to perform only certain aspects of the AF ablation procedure (e.g., just PVI). That is, when there are more complex substrates (where other types of lesion sets may be needed), it may not be practical to allow a more inclusive criteria for enrollment. Of course, the downside is that the majority of the patients that are eventually treated in clinical practice are not reflected by the enrolled patient population.
The VARIPULSE™ catheter technology is a novel circular catheter with a variable loop design, containing multiple electrodes with individual irrigation pores capable of delivering pulse-field energy.
The Ablation procedure will follow the below sequence:
Anatomical and voltage mapping of the left and/or right atrium
To perform this mapping, the VARIPULSE bi-directional catheter or a compatible conventional FDA-approved multi-electrode mapping catheter (e.g., Pentaray, Octaray or Optrell) may be used
Activation mapping of any-presenting or inducible atrial flutter
Pulmonary Vein Isolation (PVI) to be achieved in all patients with atrial fibrillation (if not already achieved).
Confirmation of entrance block with adenosine or isoproterenol challenge
Additional ablation lesion sets are per the investigator's discretion including:
As part of the ablation procedure, any safety assessments that are considered important (e.g., EGD, coronary angiography, etc.) may be performed; these data will also be collected.
This study is a prospective, single-center, non-randomized, interventional clinical study to determine the safety and efficacy in using BWI IRE ablation system in a variety of atrial arrhythmias. Subjects will be followed for 12 months post-procedure.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria: