Improved spatial stability with a flexible tip ablation catheter in atrial fibrillation ablation

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a cornerstone of radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). Optimal catheter-tissue contact remains critically important for effective PVI, both using RF ablation catheters1 and pulsed field (PF) ablation catheters.2 The extent to which static friction between the catheter and atrial tissue contributes to catheter stability and lesion quality is unknown. A flexible-tip ablation catheter (FTAC, TactiFlex, Abbott, Inc.) with contact force (CF)-sensing technology and a flexible, porous tip has been shown in preclinical studies to have improved contact stability compared to a conventional-tip ablation catheter (CTAC, TactiCath, Abbott, Inc.).