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Abbott's Latest Advances in Atrial Fibrillation Treatment

Abbott, a prominent name in healthcare innovation, has unveiled new clinical data during late-breaking presentations at the AF Symposium held in Boston from February 5-7, 2026. The findings emphasize the effectiveness and safety of Abbott's ablation catheters for treating atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition impacting millions globally.

Promising Results from the VOLT-AF IDE Study

The Volt™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System, featured in the VOLT-AF Global IDE study, demonstrated a remarkable success rate of 84.2% in achieving freedom from documented rhythm recurrence among patients suffering from paroxysmal AFib (PAF). This figure places the Volt system as a leader among competitive PFA products in terms of efficacy.

Data collected over 12 months shows that nearly 68% of patients with persistent AFib (PersAF) remained free from additional episodes following treatment with the Volt system. The study, performed across approximately 40 centers in the U.S., Europe, Canada, and Australia, also noted several compelling secondary results:

• - Physicians required an average of only 4.6 therapy applications per vein, highlighting the efficiency of the procedure.
• - The repeat ablation rate was impressively low, below 6%, one of the best performances recorded in the industry.
• - Patient-reported outcomes indicated sharp improvements in quality of life, with Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality-of-life (AFEQT) scores rising from 63.6 to 91.4 for PAF patients, and 64.2 to 91.4 for PersAF patients.
• - Importantly, no complications such as esophageal injury or hemolysis, which can lead to kidney damage, were seen in the trial.

Dr. Atul Verma, who presented the findings, highlighted the next-generation design of the Volt device that not only boosts freedom from AFib but also minimizes specific complications associated with other PFA systems.

Safety and Efficacy of TactiFlex Duo

Alongside Volt's data, Abbott presented results from the FOCALFLEX study on the TactiFlex™ Duo Ablation Catheter, Sensor Enabled™, which focuses on more intricate AFib cases. Six-month results from the trial showed that TactiFlex achieved an 81% success rate in preventing rhythm recurrences among PAF patients. Similar to Volt, TactiFlex Duo also marked significant quality-of-life enhancements—with self-reported scores climbing from 64.4 to 86.4.

The TactiFlex Duo is distinct in employing a dual-energy platform, allowing physicians to customize treatment by selecting either extreme heat or high-energy electrical pulses based on individual patient needs. This versatility is particularly beneficial for treating complex cases that require tailored approaches.

In addition to having recently received CE Mark approval, TactiFlex Duo is currently involved in clinical evaluations for AFib therapy and had also achieved Breakthrough Device Designation from the FDA for treating Ventricular Tachycardia.

Conclusion

The newly presented data at the AF Symposium solidifies Abbott’s commitment to innovation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, empowering healthcare providers with advanced tools to cater to various patient needs, from newly diagnosed individuals to those facing complex AFib scenarios. As the prevalence of AFib continues to rise, Abbott's efforts to improve clinical outcomes and enhance patient quality of life remain paramount.

For more information and access to Abbott's full range of healthcare solutions, visit Abbott’s official website.