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POLARx™

Cryoablation System

Clinical evidence

Numerous studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the POLARx™ Cryoablation System in the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. It has been studied and is in use in multiple countries across the globe.

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FROzEN-AF US IDE Clinical Trial

In a global, prospective, single-arm study, researchers evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the POLARx™ Cryoablation System for treatment of symptomatic, drug refractory, recurrent, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). At 12 months, data revealed a 96.0% freedom from primary safety events (100% for the POLARx™ FIT 6-month extension arm study) and a 79.9% freedom from atrial arrhythmias (88% in the FIT extension study). The findings also point to an increase in Grade 4 occlusions and in successful single-shot therapy with POLARx FIT at 31 mm cryoballoon expansion.1
Clinical evidence chart
Mean ± SD
*Only ablations with duration >60S included in ablation counts
 
Six-month data on POLARx™ FIT showed low arrhythmia recurrence and freedom from primary safety events, with a high rate of Grade 3 or 4 occlusions achieved.1

Freedom from atrial arrhythmias

at follow-up (6 months) after using POLARx FIT

Major adverse events

including esophageal fistulas, persistent phrenic nerve palsy and PV stenosis

High-grade occlusion rate

resulting in either Grade 3 or Grade 4 occlusion level

 
Frozen AF clinical trial
 

 
download the clinical compendium
 

 

POLAR ICE multicenter study

In a prospective, nonrandomized study conducted from 2020–2023 in multiple experienced European centers, researchers using the POLARx™ Cryoablation System for pulmonary vein isolation found the device to be effective, safe and efficient.2
Safety
POLAR ICE study - safety chart
 
Procedural characteristics
POLAR ICE study - Procedural characteristics chart
Performance and biophysical characteristics
POLAR ICE study - Performance and biophysical characteristics chart
 
POLAR ICE multicenter study
 

 

ANTARCTICA observational study

In a multicenter prospective assessment of the POLARx™ system's efficacy and safety for PVI in an early-adopter setting of acute efficacy and safety, researchers found that use of POLARx™ resulted in a high rate of real-time pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) visualization and durable lesion creation. Following a short 25-patient learning curve, experienced operators also incurred significantly fewer adverse safety events.3

Acute PV isolation

Real-time PVI visualization

Freedom from recurrence

at 226 ± 150 days

 
ANTARTICA observational study
 

 

Performance vs. existing cyroablation systems

In a propensity score-matched comparison (covarying in age, gender, CHA2DS2VASc and left atrial dilation) between POLARx™ and Arctic Front Advance™ Pro, POLARx™ demonstrated significantly lower procedure time and greater visualization of time-to-isolation.4

Faster procedure time

vs. Arctic Front Advance
(61 min. vs 73 min.)

Faster to -40˚C

vs. Arctic Front Advance
(30 min. vs 48 min.)

Greater real-time isolation rate

vs. Arctic Front Advance
(70% vs 84%)

Procedural characteristics

Polarx vs. Arctic Front - Procedural characteristics
 
Mojica comparison study
 

Studies comparing POLARx™ and other cryoablation systems

Doctor looking at a laptop screen

 

 

Explore on Educare

Advance your understanding

Continue exploring POLARx technology on EDUCARE, Boston Scientific’s online medical education platform.

 

 

References:

1. Ellenbogen, et al. One-year outcomes of pulmonary vein isolation with a novel cryoballoon in 325 patients: primary results of the FROzEN-AF trial. Presented at: Heart Rhythm Society 2023; May 19-21, 2023; New Orleans, LA, USA. 
2. Tilz R et al. Acute procedural characteristics, efficacy and safety of a novel cryoballoon for the tratement of aparoxysmal atrial fibrillation: Results from the POLAR-ICE study. EP Europace. 24:1, May 2022. doi.org/10.1093/europace/euac053.079
3. Heeger CH, Pott A, Sohns C, et al. Novel cryoballoon ablation system for pulmonary vein isolation: multicenter assessment of efficacy and safety-ANTARCTICA study. Europace. 2022 Dec 9;24(12):1917-25
4. Mojica J, Lipartiti F, Al Housari M, et al. Procedural safety and efficacy for pulmonary vein isolation with the novel POLARx™ Cryoablation System: A propensity score matched comparison with the Arctic Front™ Cryoballoon in the setting of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. J Atr Fibrillation. 2021 Jun 30;14(1):20200455.

† Updated analysis with corrected data. 

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