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Efficacy, Safety and Efficiency Study of CARTO® 3 System Guided THERMOCOOL® Catheter Ablation Versus Fluoroscopy Guided Ablation With the Pulmonary Vein Ablation Catheter® (PVAC®)

CARTO® 3 System-guided RF Ablation Using the THERMOCOOL® Catheter Versus Fluoroscopy-guided RF Ablation Using the Pulmonary Vein Ablation Catheter® (PVAC®) in Subjects With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: A Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized (2:1), Controlled, Two-arm, Unblinded Clinical Study

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01116557
Acronym
CLARITY-AF
Enrollment
79
Registered
2010-05-05
Start date
2010-04-30
Completion date
2011-12-31
Last updated
2025-02-03

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Atrial Fibrillation

Keywords

radiofrequency, ablation, atrial fibrillation, CARTO, THERMOCOOL, LASSO, PVAC

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy, safety and efficiency of CARTO® 3 system guided THERMOCOOL® catheter ablation and fluoroscopy guided Pulmonary Vein Ablation Catheter® (PVAC®) guided ablation for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Detailed description

This study is a prospective, multi-center, randomized (2:1), controlled, two-arm, unblinded, clinical study, which will evaluate the efficacy, safety, and efficiency of CARTO® 3 System-guided RF ablation (using the THERMOCOOL® Catheter and LASSO® Circular Mapping Catheter) compared to fluoroscopy-guided RF ablation (using the PVAC®). Patients with symptomatic PAF who meet the inclusion criteria will be considered for study participation and may be enrolled if no exclusion criteria apply. Eligible subjects who signed the study informed consent form will be randomized into one of two treatment groups: * THERMOCOOL® Group: RF ablation to achieve PVI using the CARTO® 3 System, THERMOCOOL® Catheter and LASSO® Circular Mapping Catheter * PVAC® Group: RF ablation to achieve PVI using fluoroscopy and the PVAC®

Interventions

Radiofrequency Ablation procedure Application of radiofrequency energy with the THERMOCOOL® catheter used in combination with the CARTO® 3 System and the LASSO® Circular Mapping Catheter to eliminate potentials arising from the pulmonary veins.

Sponsors

Biosense Webster, Inc.
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients with PAF who have had two (2) symptomatic PAF episodes in the six (6) months prior to randomization, and who are selected for catheter ablation for the treatment of their AF. Additionally patients with recurrent AF with episodes up to 30 days with sinus rhythm maintained for more than one week following cardioversion and who require PVI only for the treatment of their AF (supported by the consensus statement2). At least one AF episode should be documented either on ECG, TTM, HM or telemetry strip. * Failure of at least one AAD for PAF \[class I or III\] as evidenced by recurrent symptomatic PAF, or intolerable side effects due to the AAD. * Signed Patient Informed Consent Form. * Age 18 years or older. * Able and willing to comply with all pre- and follow-up testing and requirements.

Exclusion criteria

* Longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation * Patients with a history of any atrial flutter requiring ablation in the right atrium during the study procedure * Patients in whom sinus rhythm was maintained for less than 1 week after electrical cardioversion * Previous ablation for AF * LA size \> 55 mm * LVEF \< 40% (ejection fraction) * AF secondary to electrolyte imbalance, thyroid disease, or reversible or non-cardiac cause * CABG procedure within the last six (6) months * Awaiting cardiac transplantation or other cardiac surgery * Documented left atrial thrombus on imaging (eg, TEE) * Diagnosed atrial myxoma * Women who are pregnant (by history of menstrual period or pregnancy test if the history is considered unreliable) or breastfeeding * Acute illness or active systemic infection or sepsis * Unstable angina * Uncontrolled heart failure * Myocardial infarction within the previous two (2) months * History of blood clotting or bleeding abnormalities * Contraindication to anticoagulation therapy (ie. heparin or warfarin) * Life expectancy less than 12 months * Enrollment in any other study evaluating another device or drug * Presence of intramural thrombus, tumor or other abnormality that precludes catheter introduction or manipulation

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Freedom from documented AF/AT recurrences without new AADs1 year follow-up post-ablationSubjects will be considered a success for the primary efficacy endpoint if the subject is free from documented recurrences of AF or AT lasting more than 30s as measured with Transtelephonic Monitoring and Standard of Care arrhythmia monitoring during a 3-12 month follow-up period post-ablation.
Incidence of PV Stenosis (number of PVs with a reduction in diameter ≥ 50% at 6 months compared to baseline per CT or MRI)at 6 months post-ablation
Total procedure timeat the time of the initial ablation procedure

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Freedom from documented AF/AT recurrences with AAD(s)through 3-12 month follow-up period post-ablationMeasured by % achieving freedom from documented AF/AT recurrences
Freedom from documented AF/AT recurrences after more than one ablation procedurethrough 3-12 month follow-up period post-ablationMeasured by % achieving freedom from documented AF/AT recurrences
Freedom from documented AF recurrences without AADsthrough 3-12 month follow-up period post-ablationMeasured by % achieving freedom from documented AF/AT recurrences
Freedom from documented AF recurrences with AAD(s)through 3-12 month follow-up period post-ablationMeasured by % achieving freedom from documented AF/AT recurrences
Freedom from documented symptomatic AF/AT recurrences without new AAD(s)through 3-12 month follow-up period post-ablationMeasured by % achieving freedom from documented symptomatic AF/AT recurrences
Freedom from documented symptomatic AF/AT recurrences with AAD(s)through 3-12 month follow-up period post-ablation
Incidence of any procedure-related and/or device-related adverse events occurring during the studythrough 1 year follow-up
Incidence of any catheter-related adverse eventsduring 7 days follow-up post-ablation
Acute procedural successat the time of the initial ablation procedureMeasured by the number (%) of subjects with confirmed entrance block at the end of the ablation procedure
Total Fluoroscopy Dose-Area Product/Source Intensifier Distanceat the time of the ablation procedure
Incidence of any phrenic nerve paralysisthrough 1 year follow-up post-ablation
Incidence of any symptomatic Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)through 1 year follow-up post-ablation
Number of mapping and ablation catheters used per subjectthrough 1 year follow-up post-ablation
Quality of Life (SF-36®) and Atrial Fibrillation Symptom Frequency and Severity Checklist assessmentBaseline, 3, 6 and 12 months
Total procedure hospital visit and ablation procedure costsduring hospitalization stay for study treatment
Total number of initial or prolonged hospitalizations and unscheduled arrhythmia-related health care provider visits (including emergency department visits)through 1 year follow-up post-ablation
Total Fluoroscopy exposure timeat the time of the ablation procedureMeasured by fluoroscopy and cine-fluoroscopy time throughout procedure
Repeat ablation procedures for AF/AT recurrencesthrough 3-12 month follow-up period post-ablationMeasured by % of subjects undergoing repeat ablation procedures for Recurring AF/AT
Freedom from documented AF/AT recurrences without AAD(s)through 3-12 month follow-up period post-ablationMeasured by % achieving freedom from documented AF/AT recurrences

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026