Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Although ablation therapy for atrial fibrillation is predominantly treated by pulmonary vein isolation, triggers in the chamber are likely to be present in a significant proportion of patients and therefore whole chamber mapping is likely critical for achieving optimal outcomes.Currently mapping catheters come in single sizes, designed to be either small or large, but not both.Objective: This work aimed to perform an initial evaluation for generating a rapid whole chamber map using a novel soft robotic catheter.Methods: We leveraged soft robotics, a technology that uses hydraulically actuated polymer structures with designs that embed intelligence into the material itself, to develop a whole chamber mapping catheter that resizeable and mounted and deployed on a Oscor catheter.Electroanatomic mapping was acquired using the Ensite Precision system.Results: We show a prototype device for the Atlas 360, a mapping catheter that integrates 4 soft robotic splines that can be resized (from 6.5mm to 65mm in diameter) in realtime to expose up to 80 sensors (Figure 1).The hydraulically actuated splines provide sufficient force to push all electrodes into contact to allow for consistent measurements over both small and large sizes.By rotating the device within the right atrium, a whole chamber map can be generated in 30 seconds, with high resolution mapping occurring within 2 minutes.Conclusion: The Atlas 360 is a demonstration of a platform technology of soft robotics that highlights the role that materials can play for enhanced functionality with lower cost than what traditional devices from nitinol can achieve.Improvements to the delivery catheter will enable high resolution maps to be achieved within 30 seconds, allowing for PVI+ strategies to be more effective and reproducible.Currently the device is designed for mapping only, but it can be adapted to apply PFA selectively from any of its electrodes for an all-in-one solution.
Source: Heart Rhythm O2
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,150
OpenAlex ID: W4413963567