Global multielectrode contact mapping plus ablation with a single catheter: Preclinical and preliminary experience in humans with atrial fibrillation

One question for the technological advancement of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is whether a creative new concept can combine and even improve the diagnostic mapping options of single-tip and basket catheters with the simplicity of the use of balloon catheters for ablation. Herein, we describe the first in-human experience with a single catheter offering such a complete solution.

A new catheter (Globe^® ) with a distal multielectrode array consisting of 16 ribs with 122 gold-plated electrodes was used. Each electrode can ablate, pace, and can measure tissue contact, temperature, current, and intracardiac electrograms. The Globe was deployed and removed without difficulty in all 3 patients. Complete pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) was achieved in all 12 veins. In 10 veins, PVI was achieved with a single placement in front of the respective vein ("single circle isolation"). In one subject, the device was repositioned due to the esophagus location. In the other subject, a single gap was observed after circumferential ablation of the right inferior PV. After precise gap identification, the device was adjusted slightly for improved contact at that region, and reablation resulted in immediate PVI.

PVI isolation could be performed with the new multielectrode array Globe in all 12 PVs offering the option for easy handling and fast "single-shot" PVI. Several continuously updated mapping types from 122 electrodes even in real time during ablation demonstrate the capability to go beyond PVI for voltage mapping plus substrate modification, and for rotor mapping plus rotor ablation.