Medtronic and Boston Scientific Set to Dominate Pulsed Field Ablation Market with FDA Approved Devices

Medtronic is experiencing strong demand for its pulsed field ablation (PFA) system, which treats atrial fibrillation with non-thermal electrical pulses. During an earnings call on May 23, 2024, Sean Salmon, president of Medtronic’s cardiovascular portfolio, highlighted the growing interest in the U.S. market. This mirrors the excitement surrounding Boston Scientific’s PFA technology launch. Both companies received FDA approval for their PFA systems in late 2023 and sparked interest from medical technology industry and Wall Street analysts.

Medtronic CEO Geoff Martha anticipates significant growth in the PFA market by the end of the 2025 fiscal year. The company noted that the growth in its PFA segment has offset declines in its cryoablation business. In addition to its successful PFA system, Medtronic is also poised to launch a second PFA system called Affera, which combines ablation with cardiac mapping. The company is also pursuing international approvals and increasing manufacturing capacity.

Medtronic’s cardiac ablation solutions business grew 21% sequentially in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year, and its cardiac rhythm and heart failure segment saw a 1.3% year-over-year increase to $1.59 billion. As Medtronic continues to innovate and expand its offerings, it aims to compete with Intuitive Surgical’s market leader status by announcing clinical trials for their Hugo soft tissue surgical robot. Clinical trials are a crucial step towards bringing new medical technology into mainstream use and improving patient outcomes