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® 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. Freezor can create temperatures at its tip as low as -75ºC inside a beating heart. It offers a site-testing capability – which involves a technique called cryomapping – which may aid physicians to avoid unwanted electrophysiological effects on AV node conduction. Cryomapping In Cryomapping mode, the CryoAblation system temporarily chills conducting tissue in the target area, creating a reversible electrical effect. This allows for precise site testing and confirmation prior to proceeding with definitive ablation. This is helpful when performing AVNRT procedures.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 20:38:32 +0000
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