Surgical "Pen” Blocks Atrial Fibrillation

A new procedure for treating atrial fibrillation employs a device that allows surgeons to "draw” lines on the heart's upper chambers, creating a maze that blocks the irregular rhythms. Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac rhythm disorder.

Called the Cardioblate RF Surgical Ablation System, the device is designed to simplify the complicated and tedious surgery known as the Maze, in which surgeons make more than 34 incisions on the inside surface of the atria and then suture them to create a maze that interrupts the pathways of erratic electrical impulses. Using the Cardioblate pen, surgeons can "draw” lines instead of making incisions, creating deep lesions or scars in the same sort of pattern as the Maze does but in less than 15 minutes. The system is the product of Medtronic, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN, USA).

"With this device we think we can achieve the same effects as with the traditional Maze procedure,” said Marco A. Zenati, M.D., assistant professor of surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (PA, USA). The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is one of nine US centers currently evaluating the Cardioblate system.



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