Computational modeling of Pulsed Field Ablation for pulmonary vein isolation

Abstract: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) has emerged as a non-thermal alternative to traditional thermal ablation techniques for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). This study presents a patient-specific 3D computational framework to model the effects of PFA on pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). The modeling framework is rigorously validated against published numerical and experimental data, demonstrating strong agreement across a range of scenarios. Using realistic left atrial (LA) anatomy, commercially available circular, flower, and basket catheter configurations are simulated to evaluate lesion formation across different applied voltages. The performance of each catheter type is quantitatively assessed using multiple metrics, including lesion volume, energy delivery efficiency and transmurality. Simulation results show that circular catheters provide the highest energy delivery efficiency and target coverage at lower voltages, while basket catheters produce the largest lesion volumes. This framework offers a useful basis for exploring catheter design and treatment planning in PFA applications.