Austin – September 07, 2026 -- The Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (TCAI) at St. David's Medical Center has become the first facility in the United States to enroll in a clinical trial evaluating a next-generation mapping and pulsed field ablation (PFA) system for patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation.
TCAI performs first procedure under global study leadership
Andrea Natale, M.D., executive medical director of TCAI and global principal investigator for the trial, conducted the first procedure using the new catheter system. The trial is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of the technology across both forms of atrial fibrillation, the most common cardiac arrhythmia, which affects millions of patients worldwide.
New catheter system replaces heat and cold with electrical fields
The device delivers targeted cardiac tissue ablation using electrical fields rather than the extreme heat or cold used in conventional ablation catheters, reducing the risk of damage to surrounding structures. It integrates advanced 3D cardiac mapping technology that renders detailed electrical activity of the heart, allowing physicians to visualize catheter position and tissue contact before and after energy delivery.
Early intervention targets stroke and heart failure risk reduction
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation involves symptoms lasting up to seven days, while persistent atrial fibrillation extends beyond one week. Early treatment of both forms can lower the risk of blood clots, stroke and heart failure, and may prevent progression to permanent atrial fibrillation.
Dr. Natale said pulsed field ablation marks one of the most significant advances in electrophysiology in decades, and that the trial will help physicians globally better understand the technology's safety and efficacy profile.
TCAI operates six labs dedicated to complex electrophysiology cases
TCAI runs six technology-equipped electrophysiology labs staffed by a team of cardiac electrophysiologists handling a high volume of complex procedures.