Study validates MedLumics OCT technology in real-time assessment of catheter ablation treatment

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging device specialist MedLumics (Madrid, Spain) completed a single-case pre-clinical feasibility study of its technology in catheter ablation treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The study incorporated a novel catheter capable of simultaneous radiofrequency ablation and imaging based on the company's polarization-sensitive OCT technology and showed that the combined technology may help improve clinical outcomes by providing direct, real-time information on ablation efficacy.

The company's technology provides direct, real-time information on lesion formation in the tissue surrounding the catheter’s radiofrequency electrode. It captures the distance and contact quality between cardiac tissue and catheter tip, as well as allows clinicians to analyze changes in tissue optical properties during the ablation procedure—which could improve treatment effectiveness and reduce recurrence rates. The company is currently developing a clinical version of the catheter with 360° coverage of the tissue around the catheter tip and irrigation.

The new cardiac application of the company's technology builds on its current product in dermatology. In 2014, the company debuted its NITID skin imaging system. Recently approved by regulatory bodies in Europe and now being commercialized by the company's spinout DermaLumics, it is a point-of-care OCT imaging device that can produce dynamic, real-time, high-resolution diagnostic images with tissue penetration capability of up to 2 mm.

Full details of the work appear in The Journal of Innovations in Cardiac Rhythm Management; for more information, please visit www.innovationsincrm.com.

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