Preclinical Study of Biphasic Asymmetric Pulsed Field Ablation

Abstract

Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a novel method of pulmonary venous isolation in atrial fibrillation ablation and is featured by tissue-selective ablation. Isolation is achieved via the application of high-voltage microsecond pulses that create irreversible perforations in cell membranes (i.e., electroporation). We proposed a new biphasic asymmetric pulse mode and verified the lesion persistence and safety of this mode for pulmonary vein ostia ablation in preclinical studies. We found that biphasic asymmetric pulses can effectively reduce muscle contractions and drop ablation threshold. In the electroanatomic mapping, the ablation site showed a continuous low potential area, and the atrium was not captured after 30 days of pacing. Pathological staining showed that cardiomyocytes in the ablation area were replaced by fibroblasts and there was no damage outside the ablation zone. Our results show that pulmonary venous isolation using the biphasic asymmetric discharge mode is safe, durable, effective, and causes no damage to other tissues.