Ablation Catheter Tip Circuitry for Deep Lesion Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing RF generators used in catheter ablation procedures face challenges in creating deep enough lesions while avoiding tissue overheating, as lower power settings may be insufficient for effective lesion formation.

Innovation Solution

The ablation catheter tip incorporates a high-thermal-sensitivity design with a conductive housing, thermally-insulative tip insert, and flexible electronic circuit featuring thermal sensors and communication pathways for real-time temperature feedback, allowing for precise control of RF energy delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If lower power settings are used to prevent tissue overheating, then tissue temperature control is improved, but lesion depth and effectiveness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue temperature controlVSAvoidlesion effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter tip is segmented into multiple independent temperature sensing zones, each with its own thermal sensor. This allows different regions of the tip to be monitored independently, enabling precise local temperature control while maintaining sufficient overall power delivery for effective lesion formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple thermal sensors provide real-time temperature feedback from different locations at the catheter tip to the RF generator. This feedback mechanism allows the system to dynamically adjust power delivery to maintain temperatures sufficient for lesion creation while preventing overheating in any single region.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If higher power settings are used to create deep lesions, then lesion depth is improved, but tissue overheating risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelesion depthVSAvoidtissue overheating

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the catheter tip are equipped with independent temperature monitoring, allowing the system to deliver high power overall while locally controlling temperature in specific zones. This enables deep lesion formation in target areas while preventing overheating in adjacent tissues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The RF generator dynamically adjusts power delivery based on real-time temperature feedback from multiple sensors. This dynamic control allows the system to maintain high power settings for effective lesion depth while continuously preventing temperature excursions that would cause overheating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If traditional temperature control mode is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but temperature monitoring precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol system simplicityVSAvoidtemperature monitoring precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter tip incorporates multiple independent thermal sensors at different locations rather than a single sensor. This segmentation of the sensing function provides more precise spatial temperature information while maintaining compatibility with standard RF generator control modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter provides enhanced temperature monitoring capability through its built-in multiple sensor array, allowing the system to achieve superior temperature measurement precision using the information already available from the catheter's own sensor network without requiring complex external monitoring systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

This design enables the creation of adequate lesions by maintaining sufficient generator power while preventing tissue overheating, ensuring effective treatment of abnormal heart rhythms.

Implementation Method 1

The plurality of thermal sensors are in thermal communication with the conductive shell

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a thermally-insulative tip insert

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS12465420B2Ablation catheter tip with flexible electronic circuitry

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 ST JUDE MEDICAL CARDILOGY DIV INC

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to, for example, a high-thermal-sensitivity ablation catheter tip including a thermally-insulative ablation tip insert supporting at least one temperature sensor electrically coupled to a flexible electronic circuit and encapsulated, or essentially encapsulated, by a conductive shell. Also disclosed is a method of controlling the temperature of an ablation catheter tip while creating a desired lesion using various forms of energy and energy delivery.