May 17, 2010 – The first clinical cases using an irrigated ablation catheter were recently completed in the European Union, following recent CE Mark approval. The Thermocool SF irrigated ablation catheter is designed for use by electrophysiologists in treating cardiac arrhythmias.
The next generation irrigated ablation catheter builds on the previously cleared Thermocool irrigated catheter platform. The new catheter has a porous tip to provide uniform cooling and allows efficient cooling at half the flow rate.
The catheter offers localized cooling and uniform cooling of the entire catheter tip when ablating. This allows for efficient fluid delivery within the catheter itself and allows heat to dissipate across the entire catheter tip. As a result, cooling efficiency is increased and the flow rate is reduced.
“The Thermocool SF catheter is a new and exciting technology that represents a significant advancement in irrigated ablation for electrophysiologists,” said professor Gerd Hindricks of the Heart Center at the University of Leipzig Hospital. “My first clinical experience indicates that due to the strategic placement of the holes around the entire surface area of the tip, cooling efficiency and lesion induction may be improved to complete atrial fibrillation ablation procedures in a safe, effective, and timely manner.”
For more information: www.biosensewebster.com