Ablation Catheter Tip with Acoustic Reflection for Force and Lesion Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheters for ablation lack effective feedback mechanisms for lesion monitoring, antipop detection, and force detection, which are crucial for precise and safe procedural control.
Innovation Solution
A force-sensing catheter with a semi-rigid tip that incorporates an acoustic transducer and mirror arrangement to detect axial and angular deflections, allowing for real-time feedback on lesion progress, antipop monitoring, and force detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible catheter tip is used to conform to tissue, then tissue adaptability is improved, but force detection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter tip is divided into multiple segments with different rigidity levels. The most distal portion is rigid to maintain acoustic mirror alignment and enable force detection, while the proximal portion is flexible to conform to tissue contours. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of tissue adaptability and force detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the catheter tip are assigned different mechanical properties. The distal end features a rigid structure for acoustic coupling and force sensing, while the proximal end incorporates flexible elements for tissue conforming. This local differentiation of material or structural properties enables both tissue adaptability and measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If a rigid catheter tip is used for force detection, then force detection capability is improved, but tissue conforming behavior deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter tip is divided into multiple segments with different rigidity levels. The most distal portion is rigid to maintain acoustic mirror alignment and enable force detection, while the proximal portion is flexible to conform to tissue contours. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of tissue adaptability and force detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter tip exhibits dynamic mechanical behavior where the rigid distal portion maintains acoustic coupling during force application, while the flexible proximal portion adapts to tissue contours. The system dynamically balances rigidity and flexibility based on operational requirements, enabling both force detection and tissue conforming.
3Measurement precision
If acoustic transducers are mounted on the flexible portion, then force detection is enabled, but acoustic signal quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter tip is divided into multiple segments with different rigidity levels. The most distal portion is rigid to maintain acoustic mirror alignment and enable force detection, while the proximal portion is flexible to conform to tissue contours. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of tissue adaptability and force detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible spacer or intermediary element is introduced between the rigid acoustic mirror and the flexible catheter body. This intermediary allows the acoustic mirror to maintain its rigid mounting for signal quality while enabling the catheter tip to flex for force detection. The intermediary decouples the acoustic signal path from the mechanical flexibility.
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 catheter provides accurate and simultaneous feedback on lesion formation, tissue proximity, and force applied, enhancing procedural safety and control by enabling real-time monitoring and adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
The transducer is arranged to emit and receive an acoustic beam or ping which has been at least partially reflected from the mirror, window or membrane
Implementation Method 2
Forces applied to the tip by contacting tissue cause the most distal rigid tip portion to deflect as a rigid whole because it is mounted upon the more proximal semi-rigid deflectable tip portion which angularly and axially deflects slightly but detectably
Data Source
AI summary
An ablation catheter comprises: an elongated catheter body extending longitudinally between a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis; a distal member disposed adjacent the distal end, the distal member including an ablation element to ablate a biological member; one or more acoustic transducers disposed in the distal member and each configured to direct an acoustic signal toward a respective target ablation region and receive reflection echoes therefrom; and an acoustic redirection member disposed in the distal member to at least partially redirect the acoustic signal from at least one of the acoustic transducers toward a tissue target. The distal member includes a most-distal portion, a proximal portion, and a deflectable portion between the most-distal portion and proximal portion to permit deflection between the most-distal portion and proximal portion of the distal member. The transducers and redirection member are mounted on opposite sides of the deflectable portion.