Cryoballoon System Simplifies Ablation of Barrett’s Esophagus

A new cryoablation system for the treatment of Barrett’s Esophagus (BE) uses extreme cold to precisely destroy diseased tissue, while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

The Coldplay Focal Cryoballoon Ablation System is a through-the-scope, highly compliant balloon catheter that features a self-sizing balloon that simply inflates and automatically grabs onto the esophageal lumen wall. The balloon conforms to the shape of the lumen without exerting excessive tension on the esophageal wall, allowing the physician to direct an inert refrigerant via the small disposable handheld unit to a specific region, causing the cells nearby to freeze and die.

Operation of the system is intuitive, fast and cost-effective, and the use of real-time visualization of the esophagus during treatment eliminates the need for precise sizing, multiple deployment steps, and controller units due common to other cryoablation systems. The Coldplay Focal Cryoballoon Ablation System is a product C2 Therapeutics (Redwood City, CA, USA) and has received the received the Conformité Européenne (CE) marking of approval.

“CryoBalloon Focal offers several advantages over currently available options, including reduced treatment duration, decreased post-procedure pain, and broad utility in patients who may not be suitable candidates for radiofrequency ablation,” said Peter Garcia-Meza, President and CEO of C2 Therapeutics.

“C2’s Coldplay CryoBalloon technology blends the precision and controlled depth of radiofrequency ablation with the inherent benefits of cryotherapy,” said Prof. Jacques Bergman, MD, PhD, director of endoscopy at Academic Medical Center (Amsterdam, The Netherlands). “Coldplay’s unique characteristics include its contained cryotherapy diffuser and ability to direct cryoablation to targeted tissue in various zones. The CryoBalloon offers a solution that has the potential to address unmet medical needs in treating early Barrett's neoplasia.”

Barrett’s Esophagus develops as a result of chronic injury from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which causes metaplasia of the normal squamous epithelium lining of the esophagus, replacing them with goblet cells, which are usually found lower in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The medical significance of BE is its strong association with esophageal adenocarcinoma, a particularly lethal form of cancer.

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