Open Irrigated Ablation Catheter Fluid Diversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ablation catheter systems face challenges in effectively cooling the electrode and surrounding tissue during radiofrequency ablation procedures, leading to potential thrombus formation and impedance issues, which can limit the efficiency of energy transfer and lesion formation.
Innovation Solution
The development of an open-irrigated catheter system that delivers a cooling fluid, such as saline, through irrigation ports to uniformly cool the ablation electrode and surrounding tissue, using a coolant conduit with a fluid directing mechanism to redirect fluid flow and prevent hot spots, thereby reducing thrombus formation and enhancing energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cooling fluid is delivered through the catheter to cool the electrode and surrounding tissue, then the likelihood of thrombus formation is reduced and energy transfer efficiency is increased, but the device complexity increases due to the need for coolant conduits and fluid directing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant conduit is nested within the catheter body, with the distal end of the coolant conduit positioned inside the electrode tip body. This nested arrangement allows the cooling system to be integrated within the existing catheter structure without requiring external cooling components, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effective cooling function.
Solution Approach 2:
A fluid directing mechanism acts as an intermediary between the coolant conduit and the irrigation ports. This mechanism includes side openings in the coolant conduit that redirect fluid laterally toward the electrode tip wall, ensuring uniform cooling distribution across the electrode surface and preventing direct fluid ejection that could cause uneven cooling or hot spots.
2Use of energy by moving object
If cooling fluid is delivered through the catheter to cool the electrode and surrounding tissue, then the impedance of tissue in contact with the electrode is reduced and energy transfer is enhanced, but the device complexity increases due to the need for coolant conduits and fluid directing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant conduit is nested within the catheter body, with the distal end of the coolant conduit positioned inside the electrode tip body. This nested arrangement allows the cooling system to be integrated within the existing catheter structure without requiring external cooling components, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effective cooling function.
Solution Approach 2:
A fluid directing mechanism acts as an intermediary between the coolant conduit and the irrigation ports. This mechanism includes side openings in the coolant conduit that redirect fluid laterally toward the electrode tip wall, ensuring uniform cooling distribution across the electrode surface and preventing direct fluid ejection that could cause uneven cooling or hot spots.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the distal end of the coolant conduit is closed, then fluid flow is redirected laterally through side openings to cool the electrode uniformly, but the fluid pressure and flow dynamics become more complex to control
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant conduit has different structural characteristics at different locations: the distal end is closed to redirect fluid laterally, while side openings are positioned at specific locations to deliver cooling fluid to specific areas of the electrode tip. This localized structural variation ensures uniform cooling distribution across the electrode surface while maintaining simple overall device design.
4Ease of manufacture
If the distal end of the coolant conduit is open, then fluid can flow directly out, but this may create hot spots and reduce cooling uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant conduit has different structural characteristics at different locations: the distal end is closed to redirect fluid laterally, while side openings are positioned at specific locations to deliver cooling fluid to specific areas of the electrode tip. This localized structural variation ensures uniform cooling distribution across the electrode surface while maintaining simple overall device design.
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 open-irrigated catheter system achieves uniform cooling, reduces the risk of thrombus formation, and increases the efficiency of energy transfer to the tissue, allowing for larger and deeper lesions to be formed during ablation procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling fluid cools the ablation electrode and surrounding tissue
Implementation Method 2
a fluid directing mechanism at a distal end thereof configured to direct fluid laterally towards the wall
Implementation Method 3
The irrigation ports may be in fluid communication with the open interior region to allow fluid to flow from the open interior region through the irrigation ports
Data Source
AI summary
Medical devices and methods for using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include an open-irrigated ablation catheter. The open-irrigated ablation catheter may include a catheter body, an electrode tip body with irrigation ports at a distal end, and a coolant conduit. The distal end of the coolant conduit may extend into a proximal portion of the electrode tip body. Fluid flow from the coolant conduit may be diverted proximally and/or towards the wall of the electrode tip body by one or more openings proximal of a closed distal end of the conduit or by a structure blocking and diverting flow from an open distal end of the conduit.