Cryoelectrolysis for Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation: A First Order Feasibility Study.

　　BACKGROUND: Catheter based treatment of atrial fibrillation (AFib) involves ablation of groups of cells near the pulmonary vein. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the technological feasability of a new technology for catheter-based ablation for treatment of AFib that combines freezing with electrolysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed on a pH dye stained gel phantom of the pulmonary vein. Freezing was induced with a cryosurgical probe inserted in the vein and electrolysis was delivered through the probe with a DC power supply. RESULTS: Visual recording of colorimetric changes in pH demonstrate that electrolytic products can propagate through the frozen tissue phantom. For example, a voltage of 9 V and a current of 40 mA delivered through a -15 degree C cryosurgical probe produced an electrolysis impacted rim of over 7 mm width in 2 min. CONCLUSION: This early stage experimental work suggests that cryoelectrolysis may have potential for treatment of AFib.

Non-ionizing radiofrequency electromagnetic waves traversing the head can be used to detect cerebrovascular autoregulation responses.

Monitoring changes in non-ionizing radiofrequency electromagnetic waves as they traverse the brain can detect the effects of stimuli employed in cerebrovascular autoregulation (CVA) tests on the brain, without contact and in real time. CVA is a physiological phenomenon of importance to health, used for diagnosis of a number of diseases of the brain with a vascular component. The technology described here is being developed for use in diagnosis of injuries and diseases of the brain in rural and economically underdeveloped parts of the world. A group of nine subjects participated in this pilot clinical evaluation of the technology. Substantial research remains to be done on correlating the measurements with physiology and anatomy.