Biosense Webster, a provider of diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, has completed the first clinical cases with the new Thermocool SF Irrigated Ablation catheter in the European Union, following recent CE mark approval.
The Thermocool SF catheter is an advanced Biosense Webster irrigated ablation catheter for use by electrophysiologists in treating cardiac arrhythmias, commonly referred to as irregular heart rhythms.
The Thermocool SF Irrigated catheter is the next generation in irrigated ablation catheters and builds upon the Thermocool irrigated catheter platform. Its design and porous tip technology provides EPs with uniform cooling across the entire catheter tip and allows efficient cooling at half the flow rate.
Biosense Webster said that unlike competitive irrigated technologies which offer localised cooling, the catheter design and porous tip technology of the Thermocool SF catheter allow for uniform cooling of the entire catheter tip when ablating. This in turn allows for efficient fluid delivery within the catheter itself and allows heat to dissipate across the entire catheter tip. As a result, cooling efficiency is increased and the flow rate is reduced.
In recent months, Biosense Webster has launched new 3D mapping platform, the Carto 3 System in Europe and the Navistar and Celsius RMT Thermocool Catheters globally.
The company claimed that the Navistar Thermocool Catheters, including its bidirectional EZ Steer Catheter platform, remains the first and only FDA approved catheter for the safe and effective treatment of drug refractory recurrent symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation when used with the Carto System.
Shlomi Nachman, worldwide president of Biosense Webster, said: “The Thermocool SF Irrigated Catheter is the latest advancement in irrigated ablation catheter design with its groundbreaking and unique porous tip technology. The innovation further builds upon our clear leadership position in the electrophysiology market and reinforces our long-standing commitment to electrophysiologists and their patients. We are pleased that this exciting new product will be launched throughout the European Union over the coming months.”
Gerd Hindricks, professor of the Heart Center at the University of Leipzig Hospital, said: “The Thermocool SF catheter is a new and exciting technology that represents a significant advancement in irrigated ablation for electrophysiologists. I have been extremely impressed with the features and capabilities of the Thermocool SF catheter.
“My first clinical experience indicates that due to the strategic placement of the holes around the entire surface area of the tip, cooling efficiency and lesion induction may be improved to complete Atrial Fibrillation ablation procedures in a safe, effective, and timely manner.”