Ablation Device with Elongate Electrodes for Lesion Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaluating the effectiveness of surgically created lesions in cardiac tissue, particularly for treating atrial fibrillation, are cumbersome and inefficient, often requiring separate devices for ablation and lesion evaluation, and struggle with detecting incomplete lesions on a beating heart.
Innovation Solution
An ablation device with elongate, generally linear electrodes that can both create lesions and sense their effectiveness without repositioning, using different clamping forces and fluid delivery for ablation and sensing to enhance accuracy and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate devices are used for ablation and lesion evaluation, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but the procedural complexity and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines ablation and lesion evaluation functions into a single integrated device. The ablation device includes electrodes that can both deliver ablation energy and sense electrical signals to evaluate lesion effectiveness, eliminating the need for separate evaluation devices and reducing procedural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The ablation device is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as an ablation tool and a lesion evaluation tool. The same electrodes can deliver radiofrequency energy for ablation and simultaneously sense electrical signals to assess conduction block, making the device universal for both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional evaluation methods are used on a beating heart, then the heart can maintain its normal rhythm, but detecting incomplete lesions becomes difficult and less accurate
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses feedback from electrical signal sensing to evaluate lesion effectiveness in real-time. By monitoring electrical signals across the ablated tissue, the system can detect whether complete conduction block has been achieved, providing immediate feedback on lesion completeness while the heart remains beating
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical catheter manipulation and separate evaluation procedures with an integrated electrical sensing system. The electrodes sense electrical signals directly during ablation, eliminating the need for complex mechanical repositioning and providing more reliable detection of conduction block in the beating heart
3Measurement precision
If the ablation device repositions to evaluate lesions, then evaluation can be performed at different locations, but the procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is pre-configured with multiple electrodes positioned along the ablation line before ablation begins. This preliminary arrangement allows immediate evaluation at multiple locations without requiring repositioning during the procedure, as the sensing electrodes are already in place to detect conduction block at various points along the intended lesion path
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
Enables effective detection of complete and incomplete lesions with reduced procedural complexity and time, improving the accuracy of cardiac conduction block evaluation and lesion assessment during atrial fibrillation treatment.
Implementation Method 1
The linear clamp device often delivers radio frequency energy between the linear electrodes, which may heat and kill the portion of myocardium that is clamped between the two electrodes
Implementation Method 2
Ablation involves creating lesions on tissue during surgery. Energy is applied to the electrode to ablate the tissue adjacent to the electrode
Data Source
AI summary
Device, system and method for ablating tissue of a heart of a patient. The tissue is clamped between a pair of opposing jaws. A portion of the tissue is ablated at a first generally linear position on the tissue by applying ablative energy to two of a plurality of elongate electrodes, each of the two of the plurality of elongate electrodes being coupled in opposing relationship to each other and the pair of opposing jaws, respectively. An effectiveness of the ablation is sensed at a second generally linear position on the tissue with at least one of the plurality of elongate electrodes positioned on one of the pair of opposing jaws. The second linear position on the tissue is laterally distal to the first linear position on the tissue with respect to the atrium of the heart.