Bipolar Clamp System Ablates Cardiac Tissue

A new bipolar radiofrequency clamp system for the ablation of cardiac tissue could be a promising treatment alternative for candidates for sole-therapy minimally invasive procedures.

The AtriCure Isolator bipolar ablation clamps are a treatment alternative during open-heart surgical procedures to create lesions in cardiac tissue, used to block the abnormal electrical impulses that cause atrial fibrillation (AF). The bipolar ablation system and the associated Isolator Synergy ablation clamps have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the ablation of soft tissues in general and cardiac surgical procedures. Another product, a multifunctional bipolar pen, has been approved for the ablation of cardiac tissue and for temporary pacing, sensing, stimulating, and recording during the evaluation of cardiac arrhythmias. Neither ablation system has been approved as yet for the treatment of AF. The products are manufactured by Atricure (West Chester, OH, USA).

"We continue to make significant progress toward obtaining an atrial fibrillation indication for our Isolator ablation clamp and pen systems,” said David J. Drachman, president and CEO of AtriCure. "We look forward to continuing to make important contributions toward improving and preserving human life.”

AF affects more than 2.5 million Americans and predisposes them to a five-fold increased risk of stroke, as the erratic motion of the atria leads to blood stagnation, increasing the risk of blood clots that may travel from the heart to the brain as well as other areas.


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