Approval has been granted for Abbot’s TactiCath Contact Force Ablation Catheter, Sensor Enabled, which is helping more physicians integrate ablation with 3D mapping to advance the treatment of people with atrial fibrillation.
A new ablation catheter designed to help physicians accurately and effectively treat atrial fibrillation (AF) has been introduced. Abbott has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the TactiCath Contact Force Ablation Catheter, Sensor Enabled.Similar to Abbott’s other sensor enabled mapping and ablation treatment catheters, TactiCath Sensor Enabled delivers more precise images of the heart overlaid with real-time electrical activity information. The catheter also utilises the advanced ergonomic design found in the company’s FlexAbility ablation catheter for superior reach and maneuverability during cardiac ablation procedures.
One of the most common cardiac arrhythmias in the world, atrial fibrillation, can affect how efficiently the heart pumps blood through the body, causing symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath or lightheadedness. The condition can also increase the risk of stroke. To treat conditions like AF, physicians can use ablation catheters to scar tissue in the heart that is generating abnormal electrical signals and disrupting a patient’s natural heartbeat. As the number of patients receiving cardiac ablation therapy worldwide has grown, Abbott has prioritised ablation technology that adds efficiency and accuracy to ablation procedures. Abbott cardiac ablation technology is currently used to treat patients in more than 84 countries worldwide.
Not all ablation technology is the same, however. Physicians have begun exploring the use of new tools such as “contact force” technology during ablation procedures to help them avoid applying too much pressure to heart tissue, resulting in complications, or insufficient pressure which may reduce the effectiveness of the procedure. In addition, Abbott has also invested in technology to improve the accuracy of cardiac mapping to support cardiac ablation procedures.
Over the last two years, Abbott has expanded offerings within its electrophysiology portfolio to drive new growth and build on the company’s leadership. In addition to new clinical trials to further build clinical evidence surrounding cardiac ablation, the company has also launched the Advisor HD Grid Mapping Catheter, Sensor Enabled, and the FlexAbility Ablation Catheter, Sensor Enabled.
