Outcomes of an Optimized Workflow With PulseSelect Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System in Paroxysmal and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (NEXT PULSE)

May 4, 2026 updated by: Medtronic Cardiac Ablation Solutions

Outcomes of an Optimized Workflow With PulseSelect Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System in Paroxysmal and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (NEXT PULSE)

The NEXT PULSE study is a pre-market, prospective, multi-center, non-randomized, interventional clinical study. Adult subjects with symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent AF who provided consent will be enrolled and treated with the PulseSelect PFA System.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

This study will include subjects with a diagnosis of recurrent symptomatic Paroxysmal and Persistent AF. Following the index ablation procedure and hospital discharge, all study subjects will be followed at 7 days, 2 months, 6 months, and 12 months and will be exited from the study at the conclusion of the 12-month follow-up visit.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

320

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Adults who are ≥18 and ≤80 years of age on the day of enrollment (or older than 18 if required by local law)
  2. A diagnosis of recurrent symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent AF:

    Symptomatic paroxysmal AF: AF that terminates spontaneously or with intervention within 7 days of onset, documented by the following:

    1. Physician's note indicating at least 2 symptomatic paroxysmal AF episodes occurring within 12 months prior to enrollment; AND
    2. at least 1 ECG documented AF episode from any form of rhythm monitoring within 12 months prior to enrollment.

    Symptomatic persistent AF: Continuous AF sustained beyond 7 days and less than 1 year, documented by the following:

    1. Physician's note indicating at least 1 symptomatic persistent AF episode occurring within 12 months prior to enrollment; AND
    2. any 24-hour continuous ECG recording documenting continuous AF within 12 months prior to enrollment; OR 2 ECGs from any form of rhythm monitoring taken at least 7 days apart, both showing continuous AF within 12 months prior to enrollment
  3. Willing and able to comply with all baseline and follow-up evaluations for the full length of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Long-standing persistent AF (continuous AF that is sustained >12 months)
  2. Paroxysmal AF patients: AF that required three (3) or more distinct cardioversions in the preceding 12 months.
  3. Paroxysmal AF: LA anteroposterior diameter > 5.0 cm (by MRI, CT, or TTE) Persistent AF: LA anteroposterior diameter > 5.5 cm (by MRI, CT, or TTE)
  4. Any of the following procedures, implants, or conditions at baseline: prior left atrial catheter or surgical ablation, prior left atrial percutaneous interventions including left atrial appendage occlusion, and septal closure devices
  5. Planned LAA closure procedure or implant of a permanent pacemaker, biventricular pacemaker, loop recorder/insertable cardiac monitor (ICM), or any type of implantable cardiac defibrillator (with or without biventricular pacing function) for any time during the follow-up period
  6. Presence of a permanent pacemaker, biventricular pacemaker, loop recorder/insertable cardiac monitor (ICM), or any type of implantable cardiac defibrillator (with or without biventricular pacing function)
  7. Patient who is not on oral anticoagulation therapy for at least 3 weeks prior to the ablation procedure
  8. Contraindication to or unwillingness to use systemic anticoagulation
  9. Presence of any pulmonary vein stents
  10. Known pre-existing pulmonary vein stenosis
  11. Prior valvular (surgical or percutaneous) procedure including prosthetic, bioprosthetic, valve replacement, valve repair or valvuloplasty, and any prior atriotomy
  12. Moderate to severe mitral valve or aortic stenosis
  13. Moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (i.e., 3+ or 4+ MR)
  14. Any cardiac surgery, myocardial infarction, PCI / PTCA or coronary artery stenting which occurred during the 3-month interval preceding the consent date
  15. Unstable angina
  16. NYHA Class III or IV congestive heart failure or documented left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than or equal to 40% measure by acceptable cardiac testing (e.g. TTE), or planned transplant or left ventricular assist device (LVAD)
  17. Severe lung disease, primary pulmonary hypertension, or any lung disease abnormal blood gases or requiring supplemental oxygen
  18. Rheumatic heart disease
  19. Severe thrombocytosis, thrombocytopenia, or any bleeding or clotting disorder
  20. Documented left atrial thrombus on imaging
  21. Active systemic infection or sepsis
  22. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  23. Known reversible causes of AF, including but not limited to uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, severe untreated obstructive sleep apnea, and acute alcohol toxicity
  24. Any cerebral ischemic event (strokes or TIAs) which occurred during the 6-month interval preceding the consent date
  25. Carotid stenting or endarterectomy
  26. History of thromboembolic event within the past 6 months or evidence of intracardiac thrombus at the time of the procedure
  27. Any woman known to be pregnant or breastfeeding, or any woman of childbearing potential who is not on a reliable form of birth regulation method or abstinence
  28. Patient with life expectancy that makes it unlikely 12 months of follow-up will be completed
  29. Current or anticipated participation in any other clinical trial of a drug, device or biologic during the duration of the study not pre-approved by Medtronic
  30. Known allergies or hypersensitivities to adhesives
  31. Body mass index > 40 kg/m2
  32. Atrial myxoma
  33. Significant restrictive or obstructive pulmonary disease or chronic respiratory condition.
  34. Renal insufficiency with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <30 mL/min/1.73 m2, or any history of renal failure requiring dialysis or renal transplant
  35. Solid organ or hematologic transplant, or currently being evaluated for an organ transplant
  36. Presence of intramural thrombus, tumor, or other abnormality that precludes vascular access, catheter introduction, or manipulation
  37. Known drug or alcohol dependency
  38. Significant congenital anomaly or medical problem that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude enrollment in this study or compliance with follow-up requirements or would impact the scientific soundness of the clinical trial results
  39. Amyloid heart disease (cardiac amyloidosis)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: AF ablation
AF Ablation using the PulseSelect Pulse Field Ablation (PFA) System
Adult subjects with recurrent symptomatic paroxysmal AF or persistent AF will be enrolled and undergo ablation with the PulseSelect™ PFA system.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Safety: Number of Participants with at Least One Primary Safety Event
Time Frame: Up to 6 months post procedure

Primary Safety events are:

Within 7 days of ablation procedure:

  • Heart block requiring a pacemaker
  • Major bleeding requiring transfusion
  • Myocardial infarction
  • Permanent phrenic nerve paralysis
  • Pulmonary edema
  • Severe pericarditis
  • Significant pericardial effusion/tamponade
  • Stroke/cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
  • Systemic/pulmonary embolism requiring intervention
  • Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
  • Vagal nerve injury resulting in esophageal dysmotility or gastroparesis
  • Vascular access complications requiring intervention
  • Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) requiring dialysis, new hospitalization greater than 48 hours, or prolongation of hospitalization greater than 48 hours beyond the expected discharge
  • Death

Within 3 months post-ablation:

- Atrioesophageal fistula/Esophageal perforation (procedure and PulseSelect PFA Loop Catheter related)

Within 6 months post-ablation:

- Pulmonary vein stenosis (≥70% diameter reduction)

Up to 6 months post procedure
Effectiveness: Number of Participants with Treatment Success
Time Frame: Up to 12 months post procedure

Treatment success is defined as freedom from documented recurrence of AF, AT, or AFL based on electrocardiographic data up to the 12-month follow-up and excluding a 90-day blanking period.

Treatment failure is defined as any of the following components:

  • Acute procedural failure (see definition below)
  • Documented AF/AT/AFL after the 90-day post-ablation blanking period
  • Any subsequent AF catheter or surgical ablation in the LA, including repeat PVI ablation at any time during the study.
  • Direct current cardioversion for AF/AT/AFL recurrences after the 90-day blanking period.
  • Use of a Class I or III AAD at a higher daily dose than the pre-ablation maximum daily dose after the 90-day blanking period.
  • Initiation of a new Class I or III AAD after the 90-day blanking period.
  • Re-initiation after the 90-day blanking period of any dose of a Class I or III AAD that was failed or was not tolerated prior to the ablation procedure.
Up to 12 months post procedure

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

August 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 1, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 4, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 8, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 4, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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