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Updated: Aug 16, 2025
Robotic Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: May 29, 2015
Pulsed-Field Ablation Using a Novel Ablation-Mapping Integrated System for Pulmonary Vein Isolation-A Preliminary
Zhihong Zhao1,2, Yonggang Chen2, Bin Wu2
1Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310015, China.
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the preliminary safety and effect of a pulsed electric field (PEF) ablation system.
Methods:
The pulmonary veins (PVs) and superior vena cava (SVC) were isolated with the pulsed field ablation (PFA) system, which included a PEF generator and an electrode. The effects of PFA were investigated in six porcines using a novel circular catheter with combined functions (mapping/ablation) designed to work with a cardiac mapping system. The PEF generator delivered a train of biphasic pulsed electric pulses with a high amplitude (800-2000 V) and short pulse duration. The voltage mapping, PVs and SVC potentials, ostial diameters, and phrenic nerve and esophagus viability data were collected 4 weeks later, after which the animals were subsequently euthanized for gross histopathology analysis.
Results:
PFA 100% isolated the PVs and SVC with four applications with a mean pulse number of 100-150 pulses, causing no muscle convulsion. PFA does not cause PV stenosis or phrenic nerve dysfunction. Histological analysis confirmed 100% transmurally without any venous stenoses or phrenic injuries. Pathology follow-up showed that PFA had selectively ablated cardiomyocytes but spared blood vessels, the esophagus, and phrenic nerves; after ablation, the myocardial tissue showed homogeneous fibrosis.
Conclusion:
The PFA system is safe and feasible in the preliminary porcine model, which can effectively isolate PVs and SVCs. Transmural tissue damage can be achieved without phrenic palsy or stenosis.
