The ABLA-BOX An In Vitro Module of Hybrid Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

Pieter W. J. Lozekoot, Monique M. J. de Jong, Orlando Parise, Francesco Matteucci, Fabiana Luca, Narendra Kumar, Daniele Bani, Jens Czapla, Laurent Pison, Harry J. G. M. Crijns, Jos G. Maessen, Mark La Meir, Sandro Gelsomino*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective: We present the first testing study on the ABLA-BOX, a new in vitro module of hybrid atrial fibrillation ablation. Methods: ABLA-BOX consists of two chambers that mimic the epicardial and endocardial sides of the heart. The septum between chambers provides catheter access on both sites of the cardiac tissue. A circuit, filled with freshly obtained porcine blood, including a pump, an oxygenator, and a heating device, circulate the blood inside the system. Left atrial fresh tissue is mounted on a tissue holder and magnetically fixed. Epicardial and endocardial catheters are fixed on the catheter holders and blocked with the locker knob. The system allows control of ablation force, flow rate, temperature, and flow pattern. Results: Epicardial contact force of 100 g and endocardial force of 30 g resulted in larger lesion volumes (P <0.001), areas (P <0.001), and lesion diameters (P = 0.03 and P = 0.008), than the combination of 100/20 g. In addition, with a flow rate of 5 L/min, lesion volumes (P = 0.02), areas (P <0.001), and diameters (both, P G 0.001) were significantly larger in comparison with those of 3 L/min. Furthermore, dimensions (both, P <0.001), volume (P <0.001), and area (P <0.001) of the lesions at a circulating blood temperature of 38.0-C were larger than with a lower blood temperature (36.0-C). Finally, ablations made under stable flow pattern resulted in greater lesion diameters (P = 0.04 and P = 0.03) as well as larger volumes (P = 0.02) and areas (P = 0.03) than under turbulent-like flow reproduced with the system rotor set to 400 rpm. Conclusions: The ABLA-BOX allowed easy hybrid ablation with different setups, which can provide cardiologists and cardiac surgeons with reliable and more valuable insights.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)201-209
Number of pages9
JournalInnovations: Technology and Techniques in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery
Volume11
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

Keywords

  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Ablation
  • Radiofrequency energy
  • Cardiovascular simulator

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