Cooling the esophagus to prevent injuries during heart procedures

Utility of Esophageal Cooling Therapy for the Prevention of Thermal Injury During Atrial Fibrillation

NIH-funded research Advanced Cooling Therapy, LLC · NIH-10693273

This study is testing a new device that cools the esophagus during heart procedures for atrial fibrillation to help prevent injuries, making the treatment safer for patients.

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 2 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionAdvanced Cooling Therapy, LLC NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, IL, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-10693273 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the use of a novel device called ensoETM to actively cool the esophagus during cardiac ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a common heart arrhythmia that can lead to serious complications, including esophageal injuries during treatment. The ensoETM device is designed to reduce the risk of these injuries by acting as a heat sink, thereby protecting the esophagus from thermal damage. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this cooling method in preventing severe complications associated with cardiac ablation.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation who are scheduled to undergo cardiac ablation procedures.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have atrial fibrillation or are not candidates for cardiac ablation procedures may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of serious esophageal injuries during cardiac ablation procedures, improving patient safety and outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that active cooling can reduce thermal esophageal injury, but this specific approach using the ensoETM device is novel and has not been widely tested in clinical settings.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, IL, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.