Quadratic Model Predicts Lesion Outcome for the CARDIMA Cardiac Electrophysiology Radiofrequency Ablation System

This study investigates the CARDIMAreg electrophysiology (EP) radiofrequency (RF) ablation system characteristics to create linear lesions in a blood flow environment on cardiac tissue. We developed an in-vitro experimental platform that simulates a cardiac electrophysiology ablation procedure within the pumping atria on myocardium tissue. The INTELLITEMPreg energy management device was used to control RF energy delivery to the REVELATIONreg T-Flex, an eight electrode, eight thermocouple deflectable electrophysiology linear ablation catheter to form the linear lesions. An experimental design employing a response surface central composite model was used; the range of ablation parameters for target temperature and ablation duration were chosen based on achieving optimum rotatability and orthogonality for the experimental design model where the parameters for each factor were spaced at or close to the limits of the INTELLITEMP EP's equipment settings. The results show that this system is capable of forming clinically relevant deep and contiguous endocardial cardiac lesions in a blood flow environment, with minimal or no electrode residue.