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Redesigning Pulsed Field Ablation Catheter Form Factors for Lesion Precision, Durability, and Safety
Tzachi Levy1, April Felton1, Wilber Su2,3
1Johnson & Johnson Medtech, Irvine, California, USA.
Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE
|December 5, 2025
Summary
Pulsed field ablation (PFA) offers safer, more efficient arrhythmia treatment than radiofrequency ablation. Optimizing PFA catheter design requires understanding energy delivery physics at the tissue-blood interface for improved lesion precision and durability.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is an emerging arrhythmia treatment using high-voltage electrical pulses for irreversible electroporation.
- PFA offers improved safety and efficiency over traditional radiofrequency (RF) ablation due to its non-thermal mechanism and myocardial selectivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine engineering considerations for PFA catheter design.
- To compare current PFA catheter form factors and their impact on energy delivery, safety, and performance.
- To address design assumptions and misconceptions in PFA development.
Main Methods:
- Review of engineering principles governing PFA energy delivery.
- Analysis of electrical impedance, catheter geometry, and field strength effects.
- Comparison of industrial PFA catheter designs and their clinical implications.
Main Results:
- Catheter design significantly impacts PFA lesion precision and durability.
- Differences in electrical impedance and field strength influence energy delivery effectiveness.
- Current PFA catheter form factors affect workflow, safety, and overall performance.
Conclusions:
- A deeper understanding of PFA physics is crucial for optimizing future catheter designs.
- Engineering considerations, particularly at the tissue-blood interface, are key to PFA success.
- Addressing design assumptions will guide the evolution of PFA technology for ablation and mapping.
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