MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT), announced today the start of the U.S. pivotal clinical trial for the Cardioblate® Surgical Ablation System to treat the cause of permanent atrial fibrillation (AF). The Medtronic Cardioblate® Surgical Ablation System is an irrigated radiofrequency surgical ablation system used to create lesions on the heart muscle to block irregular signals of the heart, potentially reestablishing normal heart rhythm. AF is a condition that affects approximately 5.5 million people worldwide, with approximately one-third of these patients categorized as suffering from permanent or chronic AF. People with AF are at increased risk of stroke, have a shorter life expectancy, and may develop symptoms such as shortness of breath.
