Next-Generation Technology Reinforces Safety and Efficacy While Improving Procedure Efficiency

MINNEAPOLIS. – Medtronic, Inc., today announced that its Arctic Front Advance™ Cardiac Cryoballoon has received both U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and CE (Conformité Européenne) Mark for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). With the only cryoballoon system currently on the market worldwide, Medtronic’s second-generation system provides a more efficient approach to treating PAF than point-by-point, radiofrequency (RF) ablation.

Arctic Front Advance features the new EvenCool™ Cryo Technology, which optimizes the delivery of coolant inside the balloon. As a result, the larger, more uniform cold surface reduces the effort needed to isolate the pulmonary veins, the target of most AF ablation procedures, and improves physicians’ ability to treat patients with complicated anatomies compared to the original Arctic Front® CryoAblation System.

"With Arctic Front Advance, we are now able to more effectively treat a broader range of pulmonary vein anatomies with less effort, which can potentially reduce procedure times," said Vivek Reddy, M.D., director of Electrophysiology Laboratories at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.

Medtronic’s cryoballoon treatment involves a minimally invasive procedure that isolates the pulmonary vein, a source of erratic electrical signals that cause AF, using coolant rather than heat (RF ablation). Delivered via a catheter, cryoballoon technology is associated with faster procedure times versus point-by-point, RF ablation. Additionally, 73 percent of Medtronic cryoablation patients achieved freedom from AF at one year 1,2, a clinically significant increase in success over AF drug therapy^1,2.

"The original Arctic Front technology has become a standard for AF ablation based on its safety, efficacy and relative ease of use," said Karl-Heinz Kuck, M.D., director of cardiology, Asklepios Klinik St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany. "The second-generation system builds on this solid foundation, while offering more sophisticated features that should benefit both the physician and patient."

The first-generation Arctic Front Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter System, currently approved in both the United States and Europe, is the world’s leading cryoballoon system indicated for the treatment of PAF. The system has experienced rapid worldwide adoption and clinical experience since its introduction onto the market, having been used to treat approximately 35,000 patients in more than 400 medical centers in 25 countries.

"We anticipate this next generation balloon will be enthusiastically received by physicians worldwide. Our aim is to offer physicians the best solutions for treating serious cardiovascular diseases such as atrial fibrillation, and improving overall patient quality-of-life, while delivering economic value," said Reggie Groves, vice president and general manager of Medtronic’s AF Solutions division. "Our cadence of product launches showcases significant enhancements: This is the second revolutionary balloon-based medical technology we’ve launched in the past 18 months in the U.S. to treat AF."

Source: Medtronic, Inc.