Guidewire Ablation within the Coronary Venous System for Epicardial or Intramural Ventricular Arrhythmia: A Preclinical Study of Biophysical Characterization

Figure 1

Schematic diagram of the ex vivo guidewire transvenous ablation model. A fresh porcine left ventricular myocardium with mural thickness ranging from 20 mm to 25 mm was cut into approximately 20 × 20 × 50 mm tissue slabs. Each slab was secured at the bottom of a 0.45% saline bath which was being controlled at a temperature of 37°C by a heater. The guidewire covered with a microcatheter was positioned into simulated vessels parallel to the endocardial surface, and the surface return patch was placed on the side wall. The end part of the guidewire was connected to a radiofrequency generator via an alligator clip for RF energy delivery, and to a pressure pump for saline infusion.