Electrophysiologists at APHRS 2026 back Medtronic’s Affera for persistent AF ablation
Electrophysiologists presented data on Medtronic’s PulseSelect and Affera systems at APHRS 2026. Choi reported 100% acute PVI success in 1,160 procedures with PulseSelect, while Jung noted 86% one-year freedom from arrhythmia recurrence. Kalman highlighted Affera’s efficiency, with 97% durable PVI. Mountantonakis shared Sphere-9’s noninferiority in persistent AF, with 73.8% one-year efficacy.
How this was made
The 30-second read
Why it matters
The disclosed procedural success rates and efficiency could influence Medtronic's stock perception and competitive positioning in the cardiac ablation market.
Market read
First public disclosure of strong early clinical outcomes for Medtronic's AF ablation technologies, potentially supporting a modest upside in the stock.
What to watch
Reimbursement policies and training requirements could limit rapid uptake despite promising early data.
Background
The article reports on Medtronic's sessions at the 19th Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society Scientific Session, where clinicians shared early results from the REAL PULSE registry and real‑world experience with the Affera system.
Market effects
Electrophysiology devices may see increased demand if data spurs adoption of pulsed‑field ablation.
Korean and broader APAC hospitals could adopt the technology, modestly boosting regional device sales.
Potential ripple effect on global cardiac device manufacturers as competitors assess the new data.
Counterpoint
Investors may question long‑term durability of the results and await larger, randomized trials before pricing in a premium.
Key entities
- CompanyMedtronic
US‑listed medical device maker presenting new electrophysiology data.
- ProductPulseSelect
Medtronic's pulsed‑field ablation system.
- ProductAffera
Medtronic's mapping and ablation system.
