Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital is proud to announce the treatment of the first patient in the Richmond region with the FDA-approved Medtronic Affera™ Mapping and Ablation System with Sphere-9™ Catheter, providing an innovative treatment option for patients living with persistent atrial fibrillation (AFib). AFib is the most common atrial arrhythmia, affecting nearly 60 million people worldwide, and is associated with serious complications including heart failure, stroke, and increased risk of death.
The Affera™ System is a first-of-its-kind, all-in-one high-density mapping and dual-energy ablation catheter that combines pulsed field (PF) and radiofrequency (RF) energies. It is designed for the treatment of persistent AFib and for RF ablation of cavotricuspid isthmus-dependent atrial flutter. By integrating mapping, ablation, and validation into a single catheter, the system allows physicians to tailor treatment to each patient’s unique needs, while prioritizing safety and improving procedural efficiency.
Electrophysiologist and Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology for Bon Secours Richmond, Dr. An Barry Bui, performed the first procedures at St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond, Virginia on Sept. 4, 2025. Following the hospital’s introduction of Pulsed Field Ablation in February 2024, being the first in the Commonwealth of Virginia, which later became available at Memorial Regional Medical Center, this new system takes AFib care to the next level and further expands treatment options for patients in the Richmond region.
“Bon Secours is committed to introducing innovative solutions for our patients. The FDA-approved Affera™ Mapping and Ablation System not only provides a safe and effective treatment option for persistent AFib, it also allows us to tailor care to each patient while prioritizing safety,” said Dr. Bui. “We’re proud to bring this advanced technology to our community, advancing care for patients living with AFib and improving outcomes.”
Radiofrequency (RF) ablation is a gold-standard, thermal-based treatment that uses controlled heat to eliminate small areas of heart tissue causing abnormal electrical signals. Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a breakthrough, non-thermal technology that delivers pulsed electric fields to selectively target and isolate the pulmonary veins, interrupting the electrical pathways that trigger AFib. Having both ablation technologies available within a single catheter provides physicians greater flexibility to tailor treatment to each individual patient, improving outcomes.