Tissue temperature-controlled radiofrequency ablation.

During radiofrequency energy delivery, the catheter tip temperature can be significantly lower than the tissue temperature. The authors performed tissue temperature-controlled radiofrequency ablation in vitro and evaluated the effects of cooling, electrode to tissue contact, and target tissue temperature on lesion size. Pieces of porcine ventricle were immersed in a bath of isotonic saline solution at 37 degrees C.