Freezor Xtra

How It Works

Cryoablation
Cryoablation is a therapy that uses the removal of heat from tissue to treat cardiac arrhythmias. It restores normal electrical conduction by freezing the cardiac tissue or pathways that interfere with the normal distribution of the heart’s electrical impulses.

During a cardiac ablation procedure, a pressurized refrigerant, liquid nitrous oxide (N₂O), is delivered from a tank in the CryoConsole. The liquid refrigerant travels in an ultra-fine tube through the coaxial umbilical and the shaft of the Freezor Xtra cryoablation catheter to the tip of the catheter.

The liquid refrigerant vaporizes as it is sprayed into the tip. As it vaporizes, it absorbs heat from the surrounding tissue, thereby cooling and freezing the target tissue. The warmed refrigerant is vacuumed back to the CryoConsole through a lumen within the shaft of the catheter and coaxial umbilical. The CryoConsole discharges the vapor into the hospital scavenging system.

Safety
Hypothermic temperatures are capable of producing transient electrical block of cardiac cells. The cryo lesion expands with a leading hypothermic zone. As such, this unique feature of cryo energy may help minimize damage to adjacent structures.

Cryoadhesion
Cryoadhesion maintains the position of the catheter tip even while the heart is still beating, as the tip firmly attaches to the cardiac tissue upon freezing. Cryoadhesion also facilitates the use of pacing to test for effect and prevents the accidental dislodgement of the catheter in the event of abrupt changes in rhythm.