Safety and effectiveness of the first contact force ablation catheter with a flexible tip

Background: Catheter ablation is an established therapy for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). The TactiFlex Ablation Catheter, Sensor Enabled (TactiFlex SE) is a next-generation radiofrequency ablation catheter incorporating fiber optics-based contact force-sensing technology with a flexible, laser-cut tip.

Objective: The study sought to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the TactiFlex SE ablation catheter for treatment of drug-refractory PAF.

Methods: The TactiFlex AF investigational device exemption was a prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter clinical study. Enrollment began on June 26, 2020 and completed June 18, 2021. Subjects with PAF underwent de novo pulmonary vein isolation and, if indicated, ablation for typical atrial flutter. Subjects were followed for 12 months.

Results: Of the 355 subjects enrolled at 37 sites worldwide, 334 underwent ablation with the TactiFlex SE catheter. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of 12-month freedom from AF/atrial flutter (AFL)/atrial tachycardia recurrence was 72.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 95% CI 67.2%-77.8%) and clinical success was 83.6% (95% CI 95% CI 78.1%-87.2%). As-treated analyses compared subjects treated at high power (left atrium time-averaged power setting 40-50 W; n = 222) vs low power (<40 W; n = 97). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of 12-month freedom from AF/AFL/atrial tachycardia recurrence was 76.4% (95% CI 69.3%-82.0%) and clinical success was 83.9% (95% CI 77.5%-88.6%) in the high-power group compared with 66.8% (95% CI 56.1%-75.5%) and 80.7% (95% CI 70.8%- 87.5%), respectively, in the low-power group. The primary safety event rate in all treated subjects was 4.3%; 4.1% in the HP group and 5.2% in the LP group (P = .7671).

Conclusion: TactiFlex SE is safe and effective for treatment of drug-refractory PAF and concomitant AFL and enables more efficient procedures than previous generation catheters.