Ablation Tag Visualization for Precise Catheter Electrode Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cardiac ablation systems fail to efficiently visualize and navigate catheter movements to ensure complete and non-repetitive ablation of cardiac tissue, leading to challenges such as difficulty in closing ablation gaps, aligning visualized 3D locations with previous ablations, and preventing repetitive ablations.
Innovation Solution
A real-time graphical encoding system that highlights catheter electrodes based on proximity to ablation tags, using color and pattern variations to indicate overlap or proximity to previously ablated tissue, allowing physicians to avoid over-ablation and guide catheter navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional ablation visualization methods are used, then the system is simple to operate, but the precision of ablation coverage and the ability to prevent repetitive ablations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color-coded visual encoding to represent different ablation states and electrode conditions. Electrodes are displayed in different colors based on their proximity to ablation tags, with color changes indicating whether an electrode is suitable for ablation or should be avoided. This visual differentiation improves measurement precision of ablation coverage while maintaining ease of interpretation for operators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the anatomical space and ablation status on a display interface. Instead of directly manipulating physical models, the system generates a digital visual map that copies the spatial relationships and ablation states, allowing operators to plan and monitor ablation procedures with enhanced precision without adding physical complexity to the ablation apparatus itself.
2Manufacturing precision
If real-time graphical encoding of electrodes is implemented, then the precision of preventing repetitive ablations is improved, but the complexity of the visualization system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different visual encodings for different electrodes based on their specific proximity relationships with ablation tags. Each electrode receives a customized visual representation (color, highlight, or marker) according to its local spatial context. This allows precise differentiation of ablation boundaries at the electrode level while keeping the overall system architecture relatively simple and building upon existing mapping capabilities.
3Productivity
If proximity-based electrode identification is used, then the efficiency of closing ablation gaps is improved, but the complexity of real-time monitoring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the visualization system continuously updates electrode representations based on real-time proximity calculations with ablation tags. As the catheter moves and electrodes approach or recede from ablation zones, the visual encoding dynamically changes to provide immediate feedback to the operator. This enhances procedural efficiency by enabling rapid decision-making while the underlying monitoring complexity is managed through automated computational geometry algorithms.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method includes receiving or generating an anatomical map of wall tissue of at least a portion of a cardiac chamber, the map superimposed with ablation tags at locations of ablated wall tissue. Upon placing an ablation catheter having one or more electrodes in a vicinity of the wall tissue, at least one electrode among the one or more electrodes is identified, that violates a location proximity criterion to one or more of the ablation tags. The identified at least one electrode is graphically encoded. The anatomical map showing the graphically encoded at least one electrode is displayed to a user.