New heart zapping device shows promise for stubborn AFib
NCT ID NCT05443594
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tested the FARAPULSE system, a device that uses short electrical pulses to destroy small areas of heart tissue causing abnormal rhythms in people with persistent atrial fibrillation (AFib). The trial enrolled 669 adults with drug-resistant, symptomatic persistent AFib. Researchers measured safety and effectiveness over one year, tracking complications like stroke, heart damage, and blood clots.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- FARAPULSE Pulsed Field Ablation System (a device that uses electrical pulses to destroy heart tissue causing abnormal rhythms)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could offer a new, safer way to treat persistent atrial fibrillation without long-term medication.
- What could go wrong
- This is a single-arm study without a comparison group, so results may be less reliable. Risks include serious complications like stroke, heart damage, or blood clots.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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669 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2023
- Finished
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Feb 2025
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
\[PHASE 1\] -------------------------------------------- Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age ≥ 18 years of age, or older if specified by local law 2. Subjects have symptomatic, documented, drug-resistant, Persistent AF, defined as: a. Documented: at a minimum a physician's note confirming the arrhythmia symptoms and durations AND, within 180 days of Enrollment Date, either: i. A 24-hour continuous ECG recording confirming continuous AF OR ii. Two ECGs from any regulatory cleared rhythm monitoring device showing continuous AF taken at least 7 days apart b. Drug-resistant: effectiveness failure of, intolerance to, or specific contraindication to at least one (1) AAD (Class I or III). c. Persistent: continuous AF for \> 7 days and ≤ 365 days 3. Subjects who are willing and capable of providing informed consent 4. Subjects who are willing and capable of participating in all testing associated with this clinical investigation at an approved clinical investigational center Exclusion Criteria: 1. Any of the following atrial conditions: 1. Left atrial anteroposterior diameter ≥ 5.5 cm, or if LA diameter not available, non-indexed volume \>100 ml (by MRI, CT or TTE report or physician note) 2. Any prior atrial endocardial, epicardial or surgical ablation procedure for arrhythmia, other than right sided cavotricuspid isthmus ablation or for right sided SVT 3. Current atrial myxoma 4. Any PV abnormality, stenosis, or stenting (common and middle PVs are admissible) 5. Current left atrial thrombus 2. Cardiovascular exclusions - Any of the following CV conditions: a. History of sustained ventricular tachycardia or any ventricular fibrillation b. AF that is secondary to electrolyte imbalance, thyroid disease, alcohol, or other reversible / non-cardiac causes c. Current or anticipated pacemaker, implantable cardioverter defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy devices, interatrial baffle, closure device, patch, or patent foramen ovale occluder, LA appendage closure, device or occlusion, active implantable loop recorder or insertable cardiac monitor at the time of ablation d. Valvular disease that is any of the following: i. Symptomatic ii. Causing or exacerbating congestive heart failure iii. Associated with abnormal LV function or hemodynamic measurements e. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy f. Any prosthetic heart valve, ring or repair including balloon aortic valvuloplasty g. Any IVC filter, known inability to obtain vascular access or other contraindication to femoral access h. Rheumatic heart disease i. Congenital heart disease with any clinically significant residual anatomic or conduction abnormality j. Awaiting cardiac transplantation or other cardiac surgery within the next 12 months 3. Any of the following conditions at baseline (Section7.5): 1. Heart failure associated with NYHA Class III or IV 2. LVEF \< 40% 3. Uncontrolled hypertension (SBP \> 160 mmHg or DBP \> 95 mmHg on two (2) BP measurements at baseline assessment 4. Any of the following events within 90 days of the Consent Date: 1. Myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina or coronary intervention 2. Any cardiac surgery 3. Heart failure hospitalization 4. Pericarditis or symptomatic pericardial effusion 5. Gastrointestinal bleeding 6. Stroke, TIA, or intracranial bleeding 7. Any non-neurologic thromboembolic event 8. Carotid stenting or endarterectomy 5. Thrombocytosis, thrombocytopenia, disorder of blood clotting or bleeding diathesis 6. Contraindication to, or unwillingness to use, systemic anticoagulation 7. Patients who have not been on anticoagulation therapy for at least 4 weeks prior to the ablation procedure 8. Women of childbearing potential who are pregnant, lactating, not using medical birth control or who are planning to become pregnant during the anticipated study period 9. Health conditions that in the investigator's medical opinion would prevent participation in the study, interfere with assessment or therapy, significantly raise the risk of study participation, or modify outcome data or its interpretation, including but not limited to: 1. Body Mass Index (BMI) \> 42.0 2. Solid organ or hematologic transplant, or currently being evaluated for a transplant 3. Any prior history or current evidence of hemi-diaphragmatic paralysis or paresis. 4. Severe lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, or any lung disease involving abnormal blood gases or requiring supplemental oxygen 5. Renal insufficiency if an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is \< 30 mL / min / 1.73 m2, or with any history of renal dialysis or renal transplant 6. Active malignancy or history of treated malignancy within 24 months of enrollment (other than cutaneous basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma) 7. Clinically significant gastrointestinal problems involving the esophagus or stomach including severe or erosive esophagitis, uncontrolled gastric reflux, gastroparesis, esophageal candidiasis or active gastroduodenal ulceration 8. Active systemic infection 9. COVID-19 disease i. Current confirmed, active COVID-19 disease ii. Current positive test for SARS-CoV-2 iii. Confirmed COVID-19 disease not clinically resolved at least 3 months prior to the Consent Date j. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or a recorded HgbA1c \> 8.0% in the 90 days prior to the Consent Date k. Untreated diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea with apnea hypopnea index classification of severe (\>30 pauses per hour) 10. Predicted life expectancy less than one (1) year 11. Subjects who are currently enrolled in another investigational study or registry that would directly interfere with the current study, except when the subject is participating in a mandatory governmental registry, or a purely observational registry with no associated treatments; each instance must be brought to the attention of the Sponsor to determine eligibility \[PHASE 2\] -------------------------------------------- Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age ≥ 18 years of age, or older if specified by local law 2. Subjects have symptomatic, documented, drug-resistant, Persistent AF, defined as: a. Documented: at a minimum a physician's note confirming the arrhythmia symptoms and durations AND, within 180 days of Enrollment Date, either: i. A 24-hour continuous ECG recording confirming continuous AF OR ii. Two ECGs from any regulatory cleared rhythm monitoring device showing continuous AF taken at least 7 days apart b. Drug-resistant: effectiveness failure of, intolerance to, or specific contraindication to at least one (1) AAD (Class I or III). c. Persistent: continuous AF for \> 7 days and ≤ 365 days 3. Subjects who are willing and capable of providing informed consent 4. Subjects who are willing and capable of participating in all testing associated with this clinical investigation at an approved clinical investigational center Exclusion Criteria: 1. Any of the following atrial conditions: 1. Left atrial anteroposterior diameter ≥ 5.5 cm, or if LA diameter not available, non-indexed volume \>100 ml (by MRI, CT or TTE report or physician note) 2. Any prior atrial endocardial, epicardial or surgical ablation procedure for arrhythmia, other than right sided cavotricuspid isthmus ablation or for right sided SVT 3. Current atrial myxoma 4. Any PV abnormality, stenosis, or stenting (common and middle PVs are admissible) 5. Current left atrial thrombus 2. Cardiovascular exclusions - Any of the following CV conditions: 1. History of sustained ventricular tachycardia or any ventricular fibrillation 2. AF that is secondary to electrolyte imbalance, thyroid disease, alcohol, or other reversible / non-cardiac causes 3. Current or anticipated pacemaker, implantable cardioverter defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy devices, interatrial baffle, closure device, patch, or patent foramen ovale occluder, LA appendage closure, device or occlusion, active implantable loop recorder or insertable cardiac monitor at the time of ablation 4. Valvular disease that is any of the following: i. Symptomatic ii. Causing or exacerbating congestive heart failure iii. Associated with abnormal LV function or hemodynamic measurements e. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy f. Any prosthetic heart valve, ring or repair including balloon aortic valvuloplasty g. Any IVC filter, known inability to obtain vascular access or other contraindication to femoral access h. Rheumatic heart disease i. Awaiting cardiac transplantation or other cardiac surgery within the next 12 months j. Nitroglycerin intolerance: Known adverse drug reaction to nitroglycerin k. Coronary disease: Known severe non-revascularizable coronary disease l. Stents: Pre-existing right coronary artery stent 3. Any of the following conditions at baseline (Section7.5): 1. Heart failure associated with NYHA Class III or IV 2. LVEF \< 40% 3. Uncontrolled hypertension (SBP \> 160 mmHg or DBP \> 95 mmHg on two (2) BP measurements at baseline assessment 4. Ventricular dysfunction: Right ventricular dysfunction 4. Any of the following events within 90 days of the Consent Date: 1. Myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina or coronary intervention 2. Any cardiac surgery 3. Heart failure hospitalization 4. Pericarditis or symptomatic pericardial effusion 5. Gastrointestinal bleeding 6. Stroke, TIA, or intracranial bleeding 7. Any non-neurologic thromboembolic event 8. Carotid stenting or endarterectomy 5. Thrombocytosis, thrombocytopenia, disorder of blood clotting or bleeding diathesis 6. Contraindication to, or unwillingness to use, systemic anticoagulation 7. Patients who have not been on anticoagulation therapy for at least 4 weeks prior to the ablation procedure 8. Women of childbearing potential who are pregnant, lactating, not using medical birth control or who are planning to become pregnant during the anticipated study period 9. Health conditions that in the investigator's medical opinion would prevent participation in the study, interfere with assessment or therapy, significantly raise the risk of study participation, or modify outcome data or its interpretation, including but not limited to: 1. Body Mass Index (BMI) \> 42.0 2. Solid organ or hematologic transplant, or currently being evaluated for a transplant 3. Any prior history or current evidence of hemi-diaphragmatic paralysis or paresis. 4. Severe lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, or any lung disease involving abnormal blood gases or requiring supplemental oxygen 5. Renal insufficiency if an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is \< 30 mL / min / 1.73 m2, or with any history of renal dialysis or renal transplant 6. Active malignancy or history of treated malignancy within 24 months of enrollment (other than cutaneous basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma) 7. Clinically significant gastrointestinal problems involving the esophagus or stomach including severe or erosive esophagitis, uncontrolled gastric reflux, gastroparesis, esophageal candidiasis or active gastroduodenal ulceration 8. Active systemic infection 9. COVID-19 disease i. Current confirmed, active COVID-19 disease ii. Current positive test for SARS-CoV-2 iii. Confirmed COVID-19 disease not clinically resolved at least 3 months prior to the Consent Date j. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or a recorded HgbA1c \> 8.0% in the 90 days prior to the Consent Date k. Untreated diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea with apnea hypopnea index classification of severe (\>30 pauses per hour) l. Medication Use: Required use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors within 24 hours of the ablation procedure 10. Predicted life expectancy less than one (1) year 11. Subjects who are currently enrolled in another investigational study or registry that would directly interfere with the current study, except when the subject is participating in a mandatory governmental registry, or a purely observational registry with no associated treatments; each instance must be brought to the attention of the Sponsor to determine eligibility 12. Any of the following congenital conditions: 1. Congenital heart disease: Congenital heart disease with any clinically significant residual anatomic or conduction abnormality 2. Methemoglobinemia: History of known congenital methemoglobinemia 3. G6PD deficiency: History of known G6PD deficiency 13. Contraindication to ICM insertion: Patients who cannot tolerate a subcutaneous, chronically-inserted LUX-Dx device 14. LUX-Dx longevity: Patients with a LUX-Dx device inserted \> 6 months prior to enrollment with an estimated longevity of less than 1 year
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Arrhythmia Research Group-Research Facility
Jonesboro, Arkansas, 72401, United States
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Banner University Medical Center Phoenix-Hospital
Phoenix, Arizona, 85006, United States
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Baptist Health Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky, 40503, United States
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Bethesda North Hospital-Hospital
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45242, United States
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Brigham and Women's Hospital-Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
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Catholic Medical Center-Hospital
Manchester, New Hampshire, 03102, United States
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Cedars - Sinai Medical Center-Hospital
Los Angeles, California, 90048, United States
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Christus Trinity Mother Frances Health System-Hospital
Tyler, Texas, 75701, United States
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Cleveland Clinic Foundation-Hospital
Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States
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Clinica Universidad de Navarra-Hospital
Pamplona, 31008, Spain
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Doylestown Hospital-Hospital
Doylestown, Pennsylvania, 18901, United States
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Emory University Hospital-Hospital
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
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Grandview Medical Center-Hospital
Birmingham, Alabama, 35243, United States
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Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania-Hospital
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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Institut universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Quebec-Hospital
Ste-Foy, Quebec, G1V 4G5, Canada
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Johns Hopkins Hospital - East Baltimore Campus
Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States
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Lahey Clinic Hospital-Hospital
Burlington, Massachusetts, 01805, United States
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Lenox Hill Hospital
New York, New York, 10075, United States
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Massachusetts General Hospital-Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
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McGill University Health Centre-Hospital
Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1A4, Canada
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Mercy Hospital Medical Center-Hospital
West Des Moines, Iowa, 50266, United States
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Mount Sinai Medical Center-Hospital
New York, New York, 10029, United States
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NYU Langone Health Heart Rhythm Center
New York, New York, 10016, United States
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Northwestern University-Hospital
Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States
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OhioHealth Research and Innovation Institute - Riverside Methodist Hospital-Hospital
Columbus, Ohio, 43214, United States
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Orion Medical - Gulf Commerce Drive
Houston, Texas, 77034, United States
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Scripps Memorial Hospital-Hospital
La Jolla, California, 92037, United States
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Sentara Norfolk General Hospital-Hospital
Norfolk, Virginia, 23507, United States
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St. Francis Hospital-Hospital
Roslyn, New York, 11576, United States
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St. John's Hospital-Hospital
Springfield, Illinois, 62769, United States
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St. Luke's Hospital of Kansas City-Hospital
Kansas City, Missouri, 64111, United States
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St. Lukes Idaho Cardiology Associates-Hospital
Boise, Idaho, 83712, United States
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St. Thomas Research Institute, LLC-Hospital
Nashville, Tennessee, 37205, United States
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St. Vincent's Hospital-Hospital
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46260, United States
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Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Research-Hospital
Austin, Texas, 78705, United States
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Trident Medical Center-Hospital
Charleston, South Carolina, 29406, United States
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UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17101, United States
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UZ Brussel (AZ VUB)-Hospital
Brussels, 1090, Belgium
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University of California, San Francisco-Hospital
San Francisco, California, 94143-0112, United States
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University of Kansas Hospital-Hospital
Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States
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Valley Hospital-Hospital
Ridgewood, New Jersey, 07450, United States
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Vanderbilt University Medical Center-Hospital
Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States
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Virginia Commonwealth University Health System-Hospital
Richmond, Virginia, 23219, United States
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Weill Cornell Medical University-Hospital
New York, New York, 10021, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Two ways to quiet a racing heart: trial pits hybrid ablation against standard catheter treatment
- Extra vein ablation tested to keep persistent AFib from returning
- Duel of ablation catheters: which wins for persistent AF?
- Can a new drug stop long atrial fibrillation episodes?
- Which ablation method wins for tough atrial fibrillation cases?
- Can a diabetes drug keep the heart in rhythm?