RF applications
A calibrated roller pump (CoolPoint, Abbott) connected to the catheter
delivered saline solution at 20 ml/min for the
FlexAbilityTM SEM catheter and 17-30
ml/min for the TactiCathTM SE catheter (17 ml/min at
20W and 30W, 30 ml/min at 40W) during RF delivery as recommended by the
manufacturer for clinical use of each catheter. An Ampere RF generator
(Abbott) was connected to deliver 550 kHz unmodulated sine-wave RF
energy pulses in a temperature-controlled mode (maximum temperature
40℃). Different power settings, contact intensities, RF duration, and
catheter orientation were used during the experiment, as discussed in
the following sections.