Irish Involvement in Global FARADIGM Clinical Trial Technology

Mater Private Network has announced its participation in the FARADIGM clinical trial, a global study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of Boston Scientific’s FaraFlex™ Mapping and Pulsed Field Ablation Catheter for the treatment of patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Mater Private Network is among the first centres worldwide to participate in the study and the first in Europe to use the integrated mapping and pulsed field ablation technology.

The FARADIGM trial combines high-density cardiac mapping with pulsed field ablation, enabling physicians to map the heart’s electrical activity in greater detail before delivering targeted therapy. By integrating mapping and treatment into a single platform, the technology has the potential to support more personalised treatment planning and greater procedural precision for AF patients with complex cardiac arrhythmias.

Irish involvement in the global trial will be led by Prof Gábor Széplaki, Head of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Mater Private Network, Dublin, who is a member of the study steering committee. “Integrating detailed cardiac mapping with pulsed field ablation will allow us to map the heart’s electrical activity in greater detail, creating the potential to deliver a more precise, targeted, and ultimately more effective treatment to our patients. As a hospital, we pride ourselves in being a leader in cardiovascular medicine and research, and we are proud to contribute to the international evidence base evaluating this promising technology.”

AF is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, affecting an estimated 12.9 million people across Europe and affecting more than 40,000 people in Ireland aged over 50 years. An estimated 11 per cent of people over the age of 80 have AF.

Left untreated, AF significantly increases the risk of stroke, heart failure and other cardiovascular complications, making continued innovation in treatment an important priority for clinicians and healthcare systems alike, Prof Széplaki noted.

Should the FARADIGM trial demonstrate favourable safety and effectiveness outcomes, the technology could help expand treatment options for patients with both paroxysmal and persistent AF, while supporting more precise and individualised ablation procedures. The study represents an important step in the continued evolution of pulsed field ablation, an emerging technology that has transformed the field of cardiac electrophysiology in recent years.