Ablation Catheter with Deployable Array for Atrial Fibrillation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating atrial fibrillation, such as the Cox-Maze procedure and pulmonary vein ostial ablation, are time-consuming, difficult to perform, and can lead to complications like stenosis and blood clot risks, highlighting the need for improved ablation techniques and devices that can effectively create lesions to disrupt abnormal electrical conduction in the heart.
Innovation Solution
The development of ablation catheters with deployable distal ends and carrier assemblies that allow for the delivery of electrical energy in various patterns, including spiral and radial configurations, enabling the creation of lesions in the atria to inhibit inappropriate electrical impulses and treat conditions like atrial fibrillation with reduced procedure time and risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional ablation methods (Cox-Maze procedure, pulmonary vein ostial ablation) are used to treat atrial fibrillation, then lesions can be created to disrupt abnormal electrical conduction, but the procedure time is excessive and operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter tip is segmented into multiple independently controllable ablation elements arranged in arrays, allowing simultaneous creation of multiple lesions across different atrial regions. This segmentation enables parallel processing of ablation tasks, dramatically reducing the time required compared to traditional sequential ablation methods while maintaining comprehensive coverage of abnormal electrical conduction pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional linear or point-based ablation to two-dimensional and three-dimensional lesion creation using arrays of ablation elements that can be deployed in various configurations. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous treatment of multiple spatial locations, reducing procedure time while ensuring complete disruption of abnormal electrical conduction in three-dimensional atrial geometry.
2Reliability
If traditional ablation methods are used, then lesions can be created to treat atrial fibrillation, but the difficulty of performing the procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates dynamically adjustable ablation element arrays that can be reconfigured in real-time based on the specific anatomical and electrical characteristics of the patient's atria. The ability to dynamically adjust element positions, activation sequences, and energy delivery parameters simplifies the operator's task while maintaining effective lesion creation, as the system adapts to varying procedural conditions rather than requiring complex manual repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system integrates real-time feedback mechanisms that monitor tissue impedance, temperature, and electrical activity during ablation, automatically adjusting energy delivery to maintain optimal lesion formation. This feedback control reduces operator burden by eliminating the need for constant manual assessment and adjustment, while ensuring consistent and effective ablation outcomes across different procedural stages.
3Reliability
If pulmonary vein ostial ablation is performed to treat atrial fibrillation, then electrical conduction can be disrupted, but the risk of complications (stenosis, occlusion) increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation system applies localized energy delivery through individually controlled ablation elements that can be precisely positioned and activated only where abnormal electrical conduction is detected. This localized approach creates lesions targeted specifically at arrhythmogenic substrates while preserving healthy tissue and maintaining patent pulmonary vein ostia, thereby reducing the risk of stenosis and occlusion compared to circumferential ablation techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs adjustable energy delivery parameters including pulse duration, power level, and cooling rates to optimize lesion formation while minimizing thermal damage to surrounding structures. By dynamically adjusting these parameters based on real-time tissue response, the system achieves effective ablation with reduced risk of complications such as stenosis and occlusion, particularly in critical regions like the pulmonary vein ostia.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The ablation catheters effectively generate lesions of appropriate size and shape to treat disorganized electrical conduction, reducing procedure time and patient risk while providing a more practical and effective method for treating atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias.
Implementation Method 1
passing energy, such as electrical energy, through one or more electrodes causing the tissue in contact with the electrodes to heats up to an ablative temperature
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for the ablation of tissue. Embodiments include an ablation catheter which has an array of ablation elements attached to a deployable carrier assembly. The carrier assembly can be constrained within the lumen of a catheter, and deployed to take on an expanded condition.