# Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation for Barrett's oesophagus (Barrx HALO)

Source: https://onco.cc/technologies/barretts-radiofrequency-ablation/  
OnCo record `barretts-radiofrequency-ablation` (Technology). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Heat delivered through an endoscope to burn away the abnormal lining of the gullet in Barrett's oesophagus with dysplasia, the change that can lead to oesophageal adenocarcinoma, so normal lining grows back.

## Summary

Barrx Medical's HALO ablation catheters are cleared as electrosurgical devices (product code GEI); the HALO90 Ultra catheter summary (K120431, 3 May 2012) lists Barrett's oesophagus among the indications for coagulation of sites in the gastrointestinal tract. In the sham-controlled AIM Dysplasia trial (127 patients randomised 2:1), complete eradication of dysplasia at 12 months occurred in 90.5 per cent of patients with low-grade dysplasia after ablation against 22.7 per cent with sham, and in 81.0 against 19.0 per cent with high-grade dysplasia; intestinal metaplasia was eradicated in 77.4 against 2.3 per cent, and there was less disease progression in the ablation group.

## Fields

- Kind: Technology
- Status: standard-of-care
- Last checked: 2026-11-04
- Also known as: Barrett's ablation; Radiofrequency ablation of Barrett's oesophagus; HALO; Barrx; HALO90; Endoscopic RFA
- Tags: devices-gaps-2026-11
- Principle: A balloon or paddle electrode array delivers a controlled dose of radiofrequency energy to a depth that destroys the Barrett's epithelium without damaging deeper layers, after which squamous lining regenerates.
- Since: 2012
- Strengths: High eradication of dysplasia in a sham-controlled trial; Outpatient endoscopic procedure
- Limitations: Stricture and chest pain after ablation; Recurrence means continued surveillance

## Sources

- FDA 510(k) K120431: HALO90 Ultra ablation catheter (3 May 2012): https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K120431
- Shaheen et al., radiofrequency ablation in Barrett's oesophagus with dysplasia (N Engl J Med 2009): https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa0808145

## Connected records

- cancers: [Oesophageal and junctional adenocarcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/oesophageal-adenocarcinoma/), [Oesophageal cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/esophageal/)
- fronts: [Devices & Physical Therapies](https://onco.cc/fronts/devices/), [Early Detection & Screening](https://onco.cc/fronts/early-detection/), [Surgery & Interventional](https://onco.cc/fronts/surgery/)
- technologies: [Microwave and radiofrequency ablation systems](https://onco.cc/technologies/microwave-rf-ablation/), [Single-operator cholangioscopy (SpyGlass DS)](https://onco.cc/technologies/cholangioscopy/)
- terms: [Barrett's oesophagus](https://onco.cc/terms/barretts-esophagus/)

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