Ablation Catheter with Planar Electrodes for Cardiac Tissue Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical catheters face challenges in efficiently delivering ablation energy to cardiac tissue with multiple electrodes, requiring frequent repositioning and prolonged procedure times for effective electrical isolation.
Innovation Solution
A catheter design featuring a plurality of electrodes arranged in a plane substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, allowing for efficient positioning and energy delivery to cardiac tissue, reducing the need for repositioning and enabling irreversible electroporation for treating conditions like atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple electrodes are arranged on conventional catheters, then ablation energy can be delivered to cardiac tissue, but frequent repositioning is required and procedure time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The electrodes are arranged in a plane that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft, representing a dimensional reconfiguration from traditional transverse arrangements. This planar alignment allows the electrodes to be positioned along the length of the catheter, enabling continuous ablation along the cardiac tissue surface without requiring frequent repositioning, thus improving productivity while reducing procedure time
2Productivity
If electrodes are positioned to treat longer tissue segments, then fewer repositioning operations are needed, but electrode arrangement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates multiple discrete electrodes (at least three) arranged in a planar configuration along the longitudinal axis. Each electrode can be independently controlled and positioned, allowing the system to treat longer tissue segments by activating multiple electrodes simultaneously or sequentially, thereby increasing tissue coverage per operation while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular electrode design
3Reliability
If DC or AC energy is used for irreversible electroporation, then permanent non-conductive areas are created, but energy delivery requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes DC or AC electrical energy parameters to achieve irreversible electroporation of cardiac tissue cells. By controlling the electrical parameters (voltage, current, pulse duration) delivered through the planar electrode array, the invention creates permanent non-conductive areas in the tissue, ensuring reliable and permanent ablation results. The planar electrode configuration optimizes energy distribution to achieve effective electroporation while managing energy delivery requirements
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
This design enables effective tissue ablation with reduced procedure time, allowing for the treatment of a longer length of cardiac tissue in a single operation, using DC or AC energy to irreversibly electroporate cells and create permanent non-conductive areas.
Implementation Method 1
using DC or AC energy to irreversibly electroporate cells and create permanent non-conductive areas
Data Source
Figure 1A~2B
Figure 3~4I
Figure 5A~6
AI summary
Devices and techniques that enable multiple electrodes to be positioned proximate organic tissue, such as human tissue. In one embodiment, a catheter is provided that includes a shaft and a distal segment. The distal segment includes a plurality of electrodes configured in a plane that is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shaft.