AtriCure (Mason, Ohio) landed FDA clearance for its cryoFORM cryoablation probe, a device featuring thermal capacity for minimizing heat and Active Defrost ability that allows the physician to disconnect the probe while keeping the tissue frozen. The company touts the device’s flexibility that allows it to reach difficult anatomy within the heart with greater ease in order to treat cardiac arrhythmias.
It uses nitrous oxide (N2O) as the cooling agent that the firm believes leads to easier operation compared to the commonly used argon.
Features according to the product page:
- Increased probe flexibility to adapt to a variety of surgical ablation procedures
- Intended to address the trend towards more minimally invasive techniques by allowing surgeons to easily shape and position the probe using endoscopic instruments
- Corrugated 10 cm malleable stainless steel probe
- Retractable handle exposes active probe length
- Flexible tube set allows for tight bending radius
- Ergonomic handle accommodates to multiple hand positions
- Active Defrost feature allows probe to be removed from surface keeping tissue in frozen state
Product page: cryoFORM…
Via: AtriCure…