cardiac ablation and mapping

Cryoballoon ablation

Designed for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), the Medtronic cryoballoon ablation system offers an anatomical approach to addressing atrial arrhythmias, creating wide antral, contiguous circumferential lesions surrounding the target anatomy.

Explore the Arctic Front system
Multiple Arctic Front cryoballoons against a blue background

Safe, simple, and effective AF ablation procedures

The Arctic Front™ cryoablation system is the leader in cryoballoon technology with over 16 years of clinical experience, treating more than one million patients worldwide.1

The Arctic Front™ family of cryoballoons enables safe, effective, and efficient procedures. The Arctic Front™ system provides physicians with a straightforward approach to PVI with minimal applications, durable lesions, and delivering consistent and predictable results,2 for first-line, paroxysmal, and persistent AF patients.3-6

Arctic Front™ benefits

  • High PVI occlusion rates with single-shot freeze9-11
  • Uniform ice cap homogeneity and continuous lesion formation12
  • Strong safety profile with low rates of serious adverse events13
  • Consistent and predicable procedure outcomes2

The Medtronic cryoablation system includes the Freezor™ family of cryoablation catheters, which include devices approved for the treatment of AF or pediatric and adult AVNRT.7,8

  

Watch the video to see how the Arctic Front™ cryoballoon system works.

Alert Indications, Safety, and Warnings

  

Early rhythm control with Arctic Front™ cryoballoon

The Medtronic Arctic Front™ cryoballoon system is the only ablation system FDA-approved as an initial rhythm control strategy for patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. It is also indicated for the treatment of paroxysmal and persistent* AF patients.

Meta-analysis of three randomized first-line trials, STOP AF First, EARLY-AF, and Cryo-FIRST, demonstrates cryoablation is more effective than antiarrhythmic drugs as an initial first-line therapy for patients with paroxysmal AF.​14

  • 74.6% freedom from atrial arrhythmia recurrence in the cryoballoon arm, versus
  • 45% in the antiarrhythmic drug arm
  • 39% relative reduction in the risk of atrial arrhythmia recurrence1
  • 8.32 points larger improvement in AFEQT score on average1
  • 29% relative reduction in healthcare utilization1
  • 62% relative reduction in hospitalization1
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*

Indicated for symptomatic persistent AF defined as a continuous, sustained episode lasting longer than 7 days but ≤ 6 months.

References

1

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.

2

Fry D. Medtronic Cryoballoon Adoption. Medtronic data on file. February 2020.

3

Packer DL, Kowal RC, Wheelan KR, et al. Cryoballoon ablation of pulmonary veins for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: first results of the North American Arctic Front (STOP AF) pivotal trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013;61(16):1713–1723.

4

Su WW, Reddy VY, Bhasin K, et al. Cryoballoon ablation of pulmonary veins for persistent atrial fibrillation: Results from the multicenter STOP Persistent AF trial. Heart Rhythm. 2020;17(11):1841–1847.

5

Wazni OM, Dandamudi G, Sood N, et al. Cryoballoon ablation as initial therapy for atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2021;384(4):316–324.

6

Wazni OM, Dandamudi G, Sood N, et al. Cryoablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy as initial treatment for atrial fibrillation: impact on quality of life. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021;77(18_Supplement_1):225–225.

7

Wells P, Dubuc M, Klein GJ, et al. Intracardiac ablation for atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia using a 6 mm distal electrode cryoablation catheter: Prospective, multicenter, North American study (ICY-AVNRT STUDY). J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2018;29(1):167–176.

8

Avari JN, Jay KS, Rhee EK, et al. Experience and results during transition from radiofrequency ablation to cryoablation for treatment of pediatric atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2008;31(4):454–460.

9

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.

10

Khairy P, Chauvet P, Lehmann J, et al. Lower incidence of thrombus formation with cryoenergy versus radiofrequency catheter ablation. Circulation. 2003;107;(15):2045–2050.

11

Friedman PL. Catheter cryoablation of cardiac arrhythmias. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2005;20(1):48–54.

12

Knecht S, Sticherling C, Roten L, et al. Technical and procedural comparison of two different cryoballoon ablation systems in patients with atrial fibrillation. J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2022;62(2):409–416.

13

Fortuni F, Casula M, Sanzo A, et al. Meta-Analysis Comparing Cryoballoon Versus Radiofrequency as First Ablation Procedure for Atrial Fibrillation. Am J Cardiol. 2020;125(8):1170–1179.

14

Andrade JG, Wazni OM, Kuniss M, et al. Cryoballoon Ablation as Initial Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021;78(9):914–930.