Abstracts Explore Contact-Force Sensing For Catheter Ablation Procedures at Heart Rhythm 2012

Published on May 15, 2012 at 4:06 AM

By Will Soutter

Endosense reports progress in its efforts towards making contact-force sensing as a standard of care for performing catheter ablation procedures. The company develops force-sensing technology for improving the safety and efficacy of catheter ablation procedures for cardiac arrhythmia treatment.

At the Heart Rhythm 2012, which was held May 9 – 12 in Boston, a new HRS/EHRA/ECAS expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation and more than 20 new clinical abstracts were presented on the importance of sensing in cardiac ablation. Of these, 14 new abstracts were about the Endosense’s first force-sensing catheter, TactiCath. The instrument is designed to provide an objective and real-time force when performing the catheter ablation procedure.

The first abstract on Endsense’s TactiCath was presented at the Heart Rhythm 2006. The company has conducted numerous clinical studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of the sensing technology when compared to ablation technologies.

The results of Endosense’s EFFICAS II clinical study titled “Contact Force, FTI [Force Time Integral] and Lesion Continuity Are Critical to Improve Durable PV Isolation: EFFICAS II Results,” were presented by Dr. Josef Kautzner. Many other studies demonstrated FTI’s importance for reducing procedure time and for determining the success of the ablation.

Endosense has validated contact-force sensing in catheter ablation with its EFFICAS and TOCCATA studies. The enrollment for the TOCCASTAR investigational device exemption clinical trial is nearing completion.