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In non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AFib), >90% of stroke-causing clots that come from the left atrium are formed in the left atrial appendage (LAA).¹
The WATCHMANᵀᴹ Implant is a minimally invasive, one-time procedure designed to reduce the risk of strokes that originate in the LAA.
for lifetime protection
the procedure last less than 1 hour
1 day or less
NOTE: If thrombus is observed on the device, use of anticoagulation is at physician discretion.
The WATCHMANᵀᴹ Implant is a minimally invasive, one-time procedure designed to reduce the risk of strokes that originate in the LAA, offering an alternative to long-term oral anticoagulation therapy and eliminating the risk of long-term OAC-related bleeding complications.
A WATCHMANᵀᴹ device is implanted in a single procedure.
An AFib ablation is performed, and a WATCHMANᵀᴹ device is implanted in a single procedural event.
An AFib ablation is performed, and a WATCHMANᵀᴹ device is implanted in a later procedure.*
Note: The FARAPULSE PFA System is pictured as representative example for AFib ablation, though any modality may be used.
Next to the industry leading WATCHMANᵀᴹ Implant for LAA Closure to reduce the risk of stroke in AFib, Boston Scientific offers the FARAPULSEᵀᴹ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System to address AFib rhythm control.
The FARAPULSEᵀᴹ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) System is a next-generation ablation technology, that generates high amplitude electric pulses to achieve PVI and has now been used to treat >200,000 patients worldwide.⁵ What sets FARAPULSEᵀᴹ PFA apart from thermal ablation methods is a new level of tissue specificity that:
The FARAPULSEᵀᴹ PFA System features an innovative catheter design that takes a basket or flower-shape to adapt to the anatomy of the pulmonary veins to help ensure complete and effective ablation.
FARAPULSEᵀᴹ PFA is backed by over 10 years of research, including 55 clinical trials and more than 150 scientific publications to date.¹² One pivotal randomised controlled trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that paroxysmal AF patients treated with FARAPULSEᵀᴹ PFA showed a 73.3% treatment success rate at one year, with antiarrhythmic medication discontinued after the three-month blanking period.⁶ A more recently published study has shown comparable outcomes in persistent AF patients, with a primary effectiveness event-free rate at 12 months of 73.4% with FARAPULSEᵀᴹ.⁹
Note: The FARAPULSE PFA System is pictured as representative example for AFib ablation, though any modality may be used.
*In the OPTION trial, sequential LAAC was a minimum of 90 days (as a protocol-driven blanking period) and less than 6 months post-AF ablation.
†Thermal AFib ablation only.
References
1. Blackshear JL., Odell JA. Annals of Thoracic Surg. 1996; 61: 755-759.
2. FY25 IPPS Final Rule
3. Wazni O, et al. Randomized Comparison of Left Atrial Appendage Closure with Oral Anticoagulation After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation. Late Breaking Clinical Trial, American Heart Association 2024.
4. Saliba W, et al. Comparison of Left Atrial Appendage Closure and Oral Anticoagulation after Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation Concomitant and Sequential Cohorts of the OPTION Randomized Controlled Trial. Late Breaking Clinical Trial, AF Symposium 2025
5. BSC data on file. 2025
6. Reddy VY, Gerstenfeld EP, et al; ADVENT Investigators. Pulsed Field or Conventional Thermal Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2023;389(18):1660-1671. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2307291.
7. Ekanem, E, Neuzil, P, Reichlin, T et al. Safety of pulsed field ablation in more than 17,000 patients with atrial fibrillation in the MANIFEST-17K study. Nat Med. 2024;30(7):2020-2029 doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03114-3
8. Reddy VY, Mansour M, Calkins H. Pulsed Field vs Conventional Thermal Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: Recurrent Atrial Arrhythmia Burden. J Am Coll.Cardiol. 2024 Jul 2;84(1):61-74. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2024.05.001.
9. Reddy VY, Gerstenfield EP, Schmidt B, et al. Pulsed Field Ablation of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation With Continuous ECG Monitoring Follow-Up: ADVANTAGE AF-Phase 2. Circulation. Published online April 2025. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.125.074485
10. Della Rocca DG, Marcon L, Magnocavallo M, et al. Pulsed electric field, cryoballoon, and radiofrequency for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ablation: A propensity scorematched comparison. Europace. 2023;26(1):euae016.
11. Füting A, Neven K, Howel D et al. Patient discomfort following pulsed field ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation – an assessment of chest and groin pain using the Numeric Rating Scale. Clin Res Cardiol (2021). 10.1007/s00392-021-01933-9
12. FARAPULSE Clinical Compendium
CAUTION: The law restricts these devices to sale by or on the order of a physician. Indications, contraindications, warnings, and instructions for use can be found in the product labelling supplied with each device. Products shown for INFORMATION purposes only and may not be approved or for sale in certain countries. This material not intended for use in France.
