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Cryoablation System Overview Cardiac Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation

Arctic Front Cardiac Cryoablation Catheter System

The Arctic Front™ Cardiac Cryoablation Catheter System includes the Arctic Front family of cryoballoons, which are used in conjunction with the CryoConsole™, the FlexCath Advance™ Steerable Sheath, and the Achieve™ and Achieve Advance™ Mapping Catheters.

Medtronic cryoablation devices have been used to treat nearly one million patients in over 80 countries worldwide.1

More detailed product information, including spec sheets, can be found on Medtronic Academy.

Visit Medtronic Academy

The System at a Glance

The Arctic Front family of cardiac cryoablation catheters uses cryo energy to isolate the pulmonary vein.

Arctic Front Advance Pro cryoballoon on a white background

The Achieve and Achieve Advance Mapping Catheters are diagnostic catheters used to measure electrical signals before, during, and after an ablation procedure.

Thumbnail image of the Achieve Mapping Catheter

The FlexCath Advance Steerable Sheath helps deliver and position the Arctic Front Advance Cryoballoon in the left atrium.

FlexCath Advance steerable sheath and Arctic Front Advance cryoballoon on white background

The Freezor™ MAX Cardiac Cryoablation Catheter is a single-point catheter used to perform touch-up cryoablation to complete electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins as needed.

Freezor MAX cardiac cryoablation catheter on white background

The CryoConsole houses the coolant, electrical, and mechanical components that run the catheters during a cryoablation procedure.

CryoConsole cardiac cryoablation system on white background

How the Arctic Front System Works 

Designed with PVI in mind, the Arctic Front family of cryoballoons offer an anatomical approach for PVI, creating long, contiguous circumferential lesions surrounding the pulmonary vein.2 Providing physicians with a straightforward approach for PVI, the cryoballoon isolates each pulmonary vein with minimal energy applications, delivering consistent and predictable results.3

Watch the video below to see how the cryoballoon works.

Access Targeted Vein

Illustration of cryoballoon accessing the pulmonary vein
  • The cryoballoon is inserted over a guidewire through the FlexCath Advance Steerable Sheath to the left atrium.
  • The Achieve Advance Mapping Catheter is then inserted into the target vein.

Inflate and Position

Illustration of inflated cryoballoon about to be positioned in pulmonary vein
  • The cryoballoon is inflated in the atrium before being advanced toward the wired vein.
  • The balloon is then positioned at the antrum of the pulmonary vein.

Complete Occlusion

Illustration of cryoballoon showing complete occlusion of pulmonary vein
  • Contrast dye is injected through the guidewire lumen to assess vein occlusion via fluoroscopy.

Ablate and Assess PVI

Illustration of deflated cryoballoon withdrawing from pulmonary vein
  • The cryoballoon ablates where the balloon is in contact with the tissue, using pressurized liquid nitrous oxide (N2O) delivered from a tank in the CryoConsole.
  • The cryoballoon’s anatomical shape and large surface area create circumferential lesions with minimal energy applications.
  • The Achieve Advance catheter is then used to confirm pulmonary vein isolation.

References

1

Medtronic data on file.

2

Sarabanda AV, Bunch TJ, Johnson SB, et al. Efficacy and safety of circumferential pulmonary vein isolation using a novel cryothermal balloon ablation system. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005;46(10):1902-1912.

3

Providencia R, Defaye P, Lambiase PD, et al. Results from a multicentre comparison of cryoballoon vs. radiofrequency ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: Is cryoablation more reproducible? Europace. 2017;19(1):48-57.