Novel laser energy applications for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias

In this thesis, the studies’ aimed to investigate the technical feasibility of laser energy in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Several arrhythmias can be treated by ablation therapy, selectively destroying abnormal tissue to inhibit cardiac arrhythmia. In the past, laser energy was already explored as feasible energy source for this treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. The linear laser catheter developed and investigated in this thesis could provide an alternative to the existing ablation devices, by delivering the necessary energy to the tissue, achieving the required tissue coagulation. The technical feasibility, laser interaction and preliminary safety of the catheter design was tested in lab conditions with freshly excised animal tissue (ex vivo) and later confirmed during animal studies (in vivo). In vivo studies showed good results in energy applications from inside (endocardial) and from outside (epicardial) the heart suggesting suitability as alternative to existing treatment devices.