Ablation Catheter Pose Guidance via Iterative Electrode Contact Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophysiological procedures, it is challenging for physicians to determine the required adjustments to the pose of an intrabody ablation catheter to maximize the number of electrodes contacting the ostium of a pulmonary vein, as current systems lack effective feedback for optimal alignment and orientation.
Innovation Solution
A processor-configured system that computes and displays incremental pose adjustments, such as translations or rotations, to increase the number of contacting electrodes, using icons to guide the physician in aligning the catheter's pose, with thresholds for electrode contact and iterative adjustments based on impedance, force, or temperature signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the physician manually adjusts the catheter pose without guidance, then the physician has full control over positioning, but it is difficult to determine the required adjustments to maximize electrode contact with the ostium
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback by displaying icons representing the catheter structure and ostium, along with indicators showing the number of contacting electrodes. This feedback loop enables the physician to see the current contact status and make informed adjustments to maximize electrode-ostium contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor acts as an intermediary between the complex sensor data and the physician's decision-making. It computes pose adjustments and translates raw electrode contact data into intuitive visual displays, simplifying the physician's task of optimizing catheter positioning.
2Manufacturing precision
If the system provides detailed real-time feedback on electrode contact, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates simplified graphical copies (icons) of the actual catheter structure and ostium. These icons represent the complex physical geometry in a simplified visual form, allowing the physician to understand positioning status without processing the full complexity of the actual device geometry and sensor data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses visual indicators such as color-coded icons and highlighted elements to convey the state of electrode contact. This visual encoding provides precise alignment information through intuitive color and graphical changes rather than complex numerical data.
3Reliability
If the physician continuously monitors electrode contact numbers, then the contact optimization is improved, but the time required for the procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-computes and displays the optimal pose adjustment direction and magnitude before the physician makes adjustments. By providing the recommended adjustment in advance, the system reduces the iterative trial-and-error process, allowing the physician to make more efficient positioning decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The real-time feedback system continuously updates the display of contacting electrode numbers and icon positions, allowing the physician to quickly assess whether adjustments are working and make rapid corrections. This continuous feedback loop accelerates the optimization process compared to periodic monitoring.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for use with a catheter having a distal structure including a plurality of electrodes includes a display and a processor. The processor is configured to ascertain a number of the electrodes contacting an ostium of a pulmonary vein, and in response to the number equaling or exceeding a predefined lower threshold, carry out an iterative process. The process includes, during each iteration of the process, in response to the number being less than a predefined higher threshold, computing an adjustment to a current pose of the distal structure, and displaying, on the display, a target-pose icon, which represents the distal structure, offset, per the adjustment, from a current-pose icon representing the distal structure at the current pose. Other examples are also described.