Experimental Studies of the Effectiveness of Radio-Frequency Myocardial Ablation Using Irrigated and Dry Penetrating Active Electrodes

Abstract

This article presents the physical and biological principles of radio-frequency myocardial ablation systems. The effects of tissue temperature on electrical resistance and the depth of radio-frequency lesions are identified and the difference between irrigated radio-frequency systems and non-irrigated penetrating systems operating in different temperature conditions are discussed. Non-irrigated penetrating treatment is shown to produce a statistically significantly greater depth of radio-frequency lesioning than classical irrigated exposure, with more even heating of all layers of the myocardium, including areas covered by fatty tissue. Thus, the penetrating method guarantees transmural myocardial lesions and reduces the time, area, and radio-frequency energy exposure, which increases the effectiveness of the surgical treatment of cardiac rhythm impairments and decreases the risk of injury to surrounding cardiac structures.