Ablation System with Echo Sensing for Transmural Lesion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating atrial fibrillation using ultrasound energy face challenges in achieving a substantially transmural lesion due to difficulties in aligning the energy delivery device with the target tissue and accommodating tissue motion during ablation, which can result in inadequate or excessive tissue damage.
Innovation Solution
An ablation system equipped with an energy source and sensor that provides a beam of energy and senses energy reflected back from the tissue, allowing for real-time adjustment of operating parameters based on gap distance and tissue motion to create a contiguous lesion, and generates a tissue map to facilitate precise ablation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the energy source is positioned closer to the tissue to ensure sufficient energy delivery, then the energy delivery effectiveness is improved, but the risk of tissue damage and device overheating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors gap distance between the energy source and target tissue using echo sensing, and adjusts energy delivery parameters in real-time based on this feedback to maintain optimal positioning and prevent both insufficient energy delivery and excessive tissue heating
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts energy delivery parameters based on real-time tissue motion detection and gap distance measurements, allowing the ablation process to adapt to the beating heart environment while maintaining safe and effective energy delivery
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the energy source is positioned farther from the tissue to avoid tissue damage, then the safety is improved, but the energy delivery effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The echo sensing system provides continuous feedback on gap distance, enabling real-time adjustment of energy delivery to maintain the optimal balance between safety and effectiveness by preventing both under-delivery and over-delivery of energy
3Measurement precision
If real-time monitoring of gap distance and tissue motion is implemented, then the precision of ablation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasound transducer serves multiple functions: delivering ablation energy, sensing echo for gap distance measurement, and detecting tissue motion, thereby reducing the need for separate sensing devices and simplifying the overall system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines the energy delivery and sensing functions into a single integrated ultrasound transducer assembly, merging multiple capabilities into one device to reduce complexity while maintaining measurement precision
4Ease of operation
If the ablation device is manually positioned and aligned, then the ease of operation is improved, but the alignment precision with moving tissue decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback on gap distance and tissue motion, enabling the operator to easily adjust device positioning to maintain optimal alignment with moving tissue throughout the ablation process
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary mapping of the tissue surface and identifies optimal ablation paths before delivering energy, allowing the operator to follow pre-determined trajectories that maintain proper alignment with the target tissue
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 system effectively creates a transmural lesion, reducing fibrillation by blocking aberrant electrical pathways while minimizing tissue damage and ensuring accurate energy delivery, even in a beating heart environment.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor senses energy reflected back from the target tissue
Implementation Method 2
use of ultrasound energy. The target tissue of the region surrounding the pulmonary vein is heated with ultrasound energy emitted by one or more ultrasound transducers
Implementation Method 3
The target tissue of the region surrounding the pulmonary vein is heated with ultrasound energy
Implementation Method 4
use some form of energy to ablate (or kill) the tissue surrounding the aberrant focal point
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for ablating tissue include an ablation device having an energy source and a sensor. The energy source provides a beam of energy directable to target tissue, and the sensor senses energy reflected back from the target tissue. The sensor collects various information from the target tissue in order to facilitate adjustment of ablation operating parameters, such as changing power or position of the energy beam. Gap distance between the energy source and target tissue, energy beam incident angle, tissue motion, tissue type, lesion depth, etc. are examples of some of the information that may be collected during the ablation process and used to help control ablation of the tissue.