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Sensor-enabled cardiac ablation catheter approved by FDA
Abbott announced the FDA approved its cardiac ablation catheter for treatment of patients with atrial flutter.
The ablation catheter (FlexAbility Ablation Catheter, Sensor Enabled) collects both magnetic data and electrical current resistance to assist in precise mapping and treatment of areas that initiate abnormal heart rhythms, according to a press release issued by Abbott.
“With a practice that’s very busy with ventricular tachycardia ablation, these are typically very diseased hearts, very enlarged with areas that are often hard to reach, and this catheter makes it easier to get to those locations,” Jeffrey Winterfield, MD, director of ventricular arrhythmia service and an associate professor of cardiac electrophysiology at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, told Cardiology Today.
The catheter, when used with Abbott’s cardiac mapping system (EnSite Precision), can generate a 3D cardiac model featuring the heart’s electrical activity, which helps a physician diagnose the arrhythmia and determine which sections need to be treated with the ablation catheter.
“We are continuing to innovate around the EnSite Precision cardiac mapping system to create an ablation portfolio that best supports physicians looking to tackle even the toughest cases,” Srijoy Mahapatra, MD, medical director of Abbott’s electrophysiology business, said in the release. “The introduction of the sensor-enabled ablation catheter is delivering on that need. It offers the ability to engage the magnetic platform for enhanced precision, especially when physicians encounter a complex case.”
The catheter can also be used with Abbott’s technology to help reduce X-ray exposure (MediGuide).
“We’ve done three cases with it now in 2 days — all ventricular tachycardia ablations —and have all gone really well,” Winterfield told Cardiology Today. “So far, we’re very pleased with the results.” – by Darlene Dobkowski
For more information:
Jeffrey Winterfield, MD, can be reached at winterfj@musc.edu.
Disclosure: Mahapatra is an employee of Abbott. Winterfield reports receiving research and consulting support from Abbott (formerly St. Jude Medical) and Biotronik.