Full Press Release Details
MISSISSAUGA, ON , Sept. 15, 2026 /CNW/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced that its Volt™ Pulsed Field Ablation System, designed to deliver more precise, targeted energy with fewer catheter exchanges and reduced radiation exposure than earlier-generation systems, was used for the first time in Canada at the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal to treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib).
"Atrial fibrillation doesn't stand still--earlier intervention means we have a better chance of improving long-term outcomes for our patients. In practice, we're looking for technologies that are not only safe, but that can help make procedures more consistent and efficient. Innovations like Volt are notable for combining real-time feedback with a distinctive catheter design, which may help optimize contact and energy delivery during procedures." said Dr. Atul Verma, M.D., director of cardiology at the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal.
AFib is a type of irregular heart rhythm, also known as an arrhythmia , that affects between 500,000 to nearly one million Canadians. 1 If left untreated, AFib can lead to serious complications including: 2
Cardiac ablation is a minimally invasive treatment option for patients whose AFib isn't controlled by medication; it works by safely destroying (ablating) small, targeted areas of heart tissue that are causing irregular heart rhythms, which can make the heart beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly.
Health Canada authorization of the Volt PFA System was based on strong results from Abbott's VOLT-AF IDE study , a comprehensive clinical trial of 392 patients conducted at 40 centres in the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia. 3,4
The VOLT-AF IDE study demonstrated clinically meaningful performance in both safety and effectiveness in treating two distinct patient groups: 4
Key Clinical Advantages of the Volt System
The Volt PFA System is designed to integrate with Abbott's EnSite™ X EP System to provide physicians with accurate 3D cardiac mapping and fewer catheter exchanges during an ablation. 5,6 While other in-market competitive PFA systems often require several therapy applications with a catheter positioned in various locations, the Volt PFA System integration with EnSite X addresses such limitations.
Based on VOLT-AF IDE clinical data, the Volt System delivers the following benefits:
"Reducing the need for general anesthesia--without sacrificing outcomes--has been a clear priority for physicians performing PFA procedures. With its introduction in Canada, the Volt PFA System enables an approach that can support conscious sedation and may help make procedures more efficient while supporting quicker recovery." explains Christopher Piorkowski, M.D., chief medical officer of Abbott's electrophysiology business.
Regulatory Authorization in Canada and Global Availability
The Volt PFA System received Health Canada authorization in April 2026. The system is also approved and available in the United States, Europe and Australia.
For important safety information on Volt PFA System, visit: https://manuals.eifu.abbott/en/index.html .
FIRST CANADIAN USE OF ABBOTT'S VOLT PFA SYSTEM ADVANCES MINIMALLY INVASIVE AFIB CARE About Abbott:
Abbott (NYSE: ABT) is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries. Together with our foundation, Abbott Fund, we partner with trusted organizations to build programs that strengthen care, improve access and help families and communities thrive. We're committed to building a healthier future by inspiring lifelong habits that support well-being and help to prevent chronic disease for generations to come.
Connect with us at www.abbott.com and on LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , X and YouTube .
1 Andrade J, et al. The 2020 Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Heart Rhythm Society Comprehensive Guidelines for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation. Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 2020;36:1847-1948. https://www.onlinecjc.ca/article/S0828-282X(20)30991-0/fulltext 2 Atrial Fibrillation. Heart & Stroke. Accessed on June 22, 2026. Atrial fibrillation | Heart and Stroke Foundation 3 Health Canada. Regulatory Decision Summary - CURRENT PFA. https://hpr-rps.hres.ca/reg-content/regulatory-decision-summary-medical-device-detail.php?linkID=RDS16816 4 Verma A, et al. Balloon-in-Basket Pulsed Field Ablation for Pulmonary Vein Isolation: 1-Year Outcomes of the VOLT-AF IDE Study. JACC Clin Electrophysiol . 2026;12(6):1287-1299. 5 Rivera A, et al. Adjunctive low-voltage area ablation for patients with atrial fibrillation: An updated meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology . 2024;35(7):1329-1339. 6 Huo Y, et al. Low-Voltage Myocardium-Guided Ablation Trial of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation. NEJM Evid . 2022;1(11):EVIDoa2200141. 7 Tilz, RR et al. (2025, January 17) Acute results demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the balloon-based pulsed field ablation system for de novo PVI in PAF and PersAF [Late Breaking Presentation]. AF Symposium 2025, Boston, MA, USA. 8 Tilz, R., et al. Long-Term Safety and Effectiveness of balloon-based PFA system for de novo PVI to treat PAF and PersAF: Results from the VOLT CE Mark Study [Oral presentation]. Presented by Prash Sanders. Heart Rhythm Society 2025, San Diego, CA. 9 Data on file 90985059. 10 Data on file 91104530. 11 Tilz R, et al. Acute safety and procedural characteristics of conscious and deep sedation to general anesthesia workflows with novel balloon-based PFA system [Oral presentation and abstract]. EHRA 2025. 12 Lo M, et al. Procedural efficiency, safety and acute effectiveness of conscious and deep sedation workflows with novel balloon-based PFA system [Poster presentation]. Heart Rhythm Society 2025, San Diego, CA. 13 Kuhne M, et al. Pulsed field ablation for the interventional treatment of atrial fibrillation: a scientific statement of the European Heart Rhythm Association of the European Society of Cardiology, the Heart Rhythm Society, the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society, the Latin American Heart Rhythm Society, and the Canadian Heart Rhythm Society. Europace . 2026;28(6): euag080.
Stacey Brown, 416 618-7490, [email protected]
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