Boston Scientific releases FARAPOINT new pulsed ablation catheter to expand linear ablation capabilities of PFA platform

Shanghai, November 7, 2026 - During the 9th China International Import Expo, Boston Scientific held the "Renewed in Atrial Fibrillation Comprehensive Management Innovation Special Session" to conduct exchanges around policy trends, clinical practices and technological innovations in comprehensive atrial fibrillation management. At the scene, the company officially released the FARAPOINT disposable magnetic positioning cardiac pulsed electric field ablation catheter and announced that the product would be launched in mainland China.

FARAPOINT, used in combination with designated ablation instruments and ablation catheters, can be used for linear ablation between the inferior vena cava and the tricuspid valve to treat drug-refractory and symptomatic persistent atrial fibrillation. The launch of this product adds a new linear ablation tool to the FARAPULSE pulsed electric field ablation (PFA) platform, which complements the catheters used for pulmonary vein isolation and large-area ablation, providing more tool options for different anatomical parts and ablation targets.

At the time of this new product release, the FARAPULSE platform has served more than 20,000 patients in mainland China, ushering in an important milestone for local application. From the accumulation of clinical application experience to the continuous improvement of ablation tools, Boston Scientific is further enriching atrial fibrillation ablation solutions.

In addition to pulmonary vein isolation, some patients with atrial fibrillation also need linear ablation of anatomical locations such as the tricuspid isthmus according to specific circumstances. This type of operation requires the formation of a continuous, transmural ablation line segment by segment along the local anatomy, and FARAPOINT is a tool designed for linear ablation.

FARAPOINT adopts a four-electrode design. All four electrodes are involved in the release of pulse energy and can be paced and sensed. They can form point-shaped or continuous linear ablation lesions according to the contact between the catheter and the tissue. The size, shape, and spacing of the electrodes are optimized for the PFA energy so that the pulsed electric field is evenly distributed. Research data shows that the catheter can cause similar damage depths at different adhesion angles.

FARAPOINT uses PFA non-thermal energy to achieve low-heat, rapid energy delivery without the need for perfusion. At the same time, the catheter has a built-in magnetic positioning sensor, which can be used with the OPAL HDx cardiac electrophysiology three-dimensional mapping system for electrophysiological mapping, stimulation and intracardiac positioning.

In the FARAPULSE platform, the FARAWAVE series is mainly used in large-area ablation scenarios such as pulmonary vein isolation, while the FARAPOINT is used in linear ablation scenarios. The two types of catheters work with the FARASTAR pulse ablation instrument, OPAL HDx three-dimensional mapping system and FARAVIEW software module to integrate pulsed electric field ablation, mapping and navigation into the same platform.

Since being approved for marketing in July 2024, FARAWAVE pulse ablation catheter has been used clinically in many places in China; FARAWAVE NAV, which was launched in China in January 2026, further integrates three-dimensional mapping and ablation visualization into the surgical process.

As clinical applications increase, research evidence for FARAPULSE continues to accumulate. As of September 30, 2025, FARAPULSE has been used in more than 500,000 cases globally; published clinical studies such as MANIFEST-US, MANIFEST-17K, and MANIFEST-PF have cumulatively covered more than 70,000 patients.

The ADVANTAGE AF Phase 2 study provides clinical data on FARAPOINT for linear ablation: FARAPOINT ablation time is approximately 5 minutes, while achieving a 97.9% freedom from typical AFL recurrence rate at 360 days. These results show that FARAPOINT can shorten linear ablation time while achieving a higher success rate.

Management of atrial fibrillation requires both rhythm control and stroke prevention. For patients who meet the corresponding indications, catheter ablation and left atrial appendage occlusion can be completed in the same operation. Focusing on the clinical needs of these two aspects, Boston Scientific's FARAPULSE platform provides large-area and point-line ablation tools, supporting two-dimensional and three-dimensional navigation; WATCHMAN left atrial appendage occlusion technology provides stroke risk management options for patients who meet the indications. At present, the annual number of "one-stop" atrial fibrillation surgeries in my country has exceeded 10,000, and clinical experience continues to accumulate.

The standardized application of new technologies is also inseparable from professional training. The CIIE forum focused on "one-stop" treatment and discussed patient selection, surgical safety, and diagnosis and treatment processes. The atrial fibrillation disease training area recently launched jointly with Siemens Healthineers has launched the first batch of more than 30 courses, covering preoperative imaging evaluation, intraoperative guidance, interventional surgery teaching, postoperative evaluation and scientific research cutting-edge, focusing on the atrial fibrillation diagnosis and treatment system to introduce imaging, ablation, closure and long-term management.

Gong Lingyun, Vice President of Boston Scientific China's Atrial Fibrillation Solutions Division, said: "We believe that leadership in the PFA field is not only reflected in technological innovation, but also in the ability to truly serve clinical needs with solid clinical evidence and continued professional support. FARAPOINT in China The market launch is an important step for us to continue to improve our atrial fibrillation solutions. In the future, we will deepen cooperation with Chinese clinical colleagues, combine global application experience with local clinical practice, and promote the diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation from the application of new technologies to more systematic and standardized comprehensive management, so that the value of innovation can ultimately be reflected in the benefits of patients."