Angled Flow Ablation Catheter Tip for Enhanced Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing irrigated catheter devices face challenges in effectively cooling ablation electrodes due to irrigation fluid flow being directed radially away from the catheter tip, limiting the cooling effect around the electrode.
Innovation Solution
The design of ablation catheter tips with angled or curved passageways and orifices that promote a circumferential, vortex, or spiral flow of irrigation fluid around the catheter tip, allowing the fluid to exit at an acute angle relative to the electrode surface, thereby maintaining the fluid closer to the electrode and enhancing cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If irrigation fluid is directed radially away from the catheter tip, then the device structure is simple, but the cooling effect is limited and the fluid moves away from the electrode surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved passageways that follow an arc-shaped trajectory instead of straight radial lines. The passageways are configured with specific curvature radii and angles to guide the irrigation fluid in a curved path that wraps around the catheter tip, allowing the fluid to remain in contact with the electrode surface longer and improve cooling effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from simple radial (one-dimensional) fluid discharge to circumferential vortex flow (two-dimensional rotational motion). By configuring passageways at specific angles and using curved trajectories, the fluid is directed to rotate around the catheter tip in addition to moving outward, creating a vortex pattern that enhances cooling coverage and maintains fluid-electrode contact.
2Temperature
If irrigation flow rate is kept low to maintain fluid close to the catheter tip, then cooling efficiency improves, but the ability to counteract blood circulation velocity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The curved passageway design creates a vortex flow pattern that generates centrifugal forces and rotational motion. This rotational kinetic energy helps the low-velocity fluid resist being swept away by blood circulation, allowing the fluid to maintain its position closer to the catheter tip despite the relatively low flow rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes hydraulic principles by designing passageways with specific cross-sectional areas, angles, and curvature radii that optimize fluid flow characteristics. The geometry of the passageways is calculated to produce the desired vortex flow pattern and maintain appropriate fluid velocity and pressure to counteract blood flow while keeping the fluid close to the electrode.
3Temperature
If passageways are configured at acute angles to promote vortex flow, then fluid remains closer to the electrode surface, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies concrete geometric parameters for the curved passageways, including curvature radii (e.g., 0.5mm to 2.0mm), arc angles (e.g., 30° to 60°), and passageway diameters. These quantified parameters provide clear manufacturing targets and tolerances, making it feasible to achieve the desired vortex flow pattern through conventional manufacturing processes while ensuring consistent cooling performance.
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 configuration improves the cooling effect by maintaining the irrigation fluid closer to the ablation electrode, reducing the risk of tissue damage and blood coagulation, even with low-velocity flow rates, and can be achieved using materials like platinum alloys and poor thermal conductive materials for insulation.
Implementation Method 1
the fluid flow from one or more orifice promotes a circumferential, vortex, or spiral flow around the catheter tip
Implementation Method 2
The use of fluid mitigates rising temperature in and around the ablation electrode, therefore reducing the risk of unwanted tissue damage and blood coagulation
Implementation Method 3
it is another object of the present invention to improve the cooling effect of irrigated catheter devices by insulating the irrigating chambers
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an ablation catheter tip for use with an irrigated catheter device comprising an inner cavity and at least one passageway that leads to an orifice, wherein the fluid flow from the orifice promotes a circular, vortex, or spiral flow around the catheter tip from the acute angle formed at the orifice with respect to a line tangent to the surface of the ablation electrode at the orifice. The present invention further provides for an ablation catheter tip, for use with an irrigated catheter device, comprising an inner cavity and at least one curved passageway that leads to an orifice, wherein a line drawn tangent to the arc of the curve forms an acute angle measured with respect to a line drawn tangent to surface of the ablation electrode at the orifice of the passageway. Additionally, the present inventions provides a method for cooling an ablation catheter tip and a method for generating, with a low-volume irrigation flow, a rotational, spiral, or vortex flow around the ablation catheter tip.