Session Organizers: Daniel Sigg, Medtronic and Matej Rebersek, University of Ljubljana
Pulsed Field Ablation: A novel device-based treatment for atrial fibrillation
Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a novel ablation energy modality based on irreversible electroporation currently being developed for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The session will include an overview of AF including current device based treatments and unmet needs, an overview of electroporator device design (and a brief history of electroporation), a talk on preclinical PFA evidence and lastly a talk on the latest clinical PFA evidence.
What is AF: clinical background; current device-based treatments
Henri Roukoz
Associate Professor of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division
Section Chief, Electrophysiology Director of Complex and Congenital Ablation
University of Minnesota Medical School
Electroporation: From the Beginnings to Pulsed Field Ablation
Matej Reberšek
University of Ljubljana
Abstract: The beginnings of electroporation date back to the 1970s, while the first clinical device for electroporation was developed at the beginning of this century. The presentation will focus on what electroporation is, how the first clinical electroporation device was developed, and what challenges lie ahead in developing a safer and more efficient clinical PFA device.
Bio: Matej Reberšek is an Assistant Professor at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, where he received a PhD in electrical engineering in 2008. He is the author of more than 30 articles in SCI -ranked journals, cited more than 1000 times. His current research interests include the development of biomedical devices, especially pulse power devices for electroporation, and the study of biological responses to electrical pulses.
PFA: Pre-clinical Evidence for a New Energy Source
Lars Mattison
Medtronic
Abstract: Pulsed Field Ablation is a new energy source that is being researched for cardiac ablation. The development of a novel energy source has required extensive pre-clinical research to build and understanding of the biophysics of PFA.
Bio: Lars is a Senior Scientist in Cardiac Ablation Solutions at Medtronic focused on Pulsed Field Ablation. He earned his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Minnesota in the Visible Heart Lab.
Pulsed Field Ablation: PULSED AF
John Hummel
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Dr. John Hummel is a Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of Electrophysiology Research at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. He holds the Corinne Frick Chair in Electrophysiology and oversees the clinical and translational research efforts of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Section. He has authored or co-authored greater than 150 manuscripts, a book and book chapters and numerous research abstracts. His most recent concentration is on applying basic laboratory findings on extra- pulmonary drivers of atrial fibrillation to further the progress in the successful treatment of persistent AF patients.
Session Organizer Bio
Daniel Sigg
MD, PhD, Medtronic
Daniel Sigg holds a MD from the U of Basel, Switzerland, and a PhD in integrative biology and physiology from the UMN. He is currently working as a Distinguished Scientist at Medtronic's Cardiac Ablation Solutions business focusing on pulsed field ablation.