title: Steerable sheath technology in the ablation of atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Steerable sheaths have been shown to reduce procedure time in the catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF), where catheter positioning and stability is typically challenging. This review critically addresses and highlights the recent developments in design of sheaths used to manipulate the ablation catheter and how these developments may impact on the ablation procedure itself, in particular the likelihood of first-time success. Patents relating to steerable sheaths are reviewed and discussed to gauge potential future developments in this area.
authors.forename: Jubin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Kelvin C K
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ginks
authors.forename: Yaver
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bashir
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Betts
authors.affiliation: Oxford Heart Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom. kim.rajappan@ouh.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rajappan
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans