First in Human Validation of Impedance‐Based Catheter Tip‐to‐Tissue Contact Assessment in the Left Atrium

Abstract

Measurement of local impedances between catheter tip and tissue is feasible to reproducibly describe electrical catheter contact within the left atrium in a clinical setting of AF catheter ablation.

The Spatial Distribution of Atrial Fibrillation Termination Sites in the Right Atrium During Complex Fractionated Atrial Electrograms‐Guided Ablation in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

“…This may explain why only a small RA volume can independently predict successful AF termination during RA CFAE ablation after PVI and LA CFAE in our study, which comprised more than 90% of patients with longstanding persistent AF. In patients with chronic AF with high electrical and structural remodeling, other substrate‐guided ablation, linear ablation, epicardial ablation, or other techniques may improve success …”

2012 HRS/EHRA/ECAS expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation: recommendations for patient selection, procedural techniques, patient management and follow-up, definitions, endpoints, and research trial design

“…Attempts have been made to monitor catheter contact to the endocardium with imaging, predominantly ICE. However, the technology now exists to directly measure the force exerted at the catheter tip or to estimate contact force based on local impedance [268][269][270][271][272]. It is hypothesized that monitoring electrode-tissue contact will improve the efficacy of transmural lesion formation and improve procedure success.…”

Contact force mapping during catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: procedural data and one-year follow-up

“…New technological approaches have recently become available to provide force control. Catheter-tissue contact force (CF) can be measured at the catheter tip with fibreoptic [6] or magnetic [10] sensors or an impedance calculation algorithm [11]. …”

“…Only a few studies report intraprocedural results and in most studies the electrophysiologist was blinded as to the CF information. It is reasonable and has been shown in a few studies [10, 11] that CF information is useful to increase efficacy (and presumably safety) of the procedure. Yet, it is unclear what impact the technology has on procedure duration, efficacy and safety in daily practice.…”