Balloon Positioning via Electromagnetic Field Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional balloon therapy procedures for treating conditions like atrial fibrillation face challenges in accurately guiding the ablation balloon to the treatment site and ensuring optimal positioning, often relying on fluoroscopy and contrast agents, which can be invasive and imprecise, especially for patients with contraindications to contrast agents.
Innovation Solution
An electrophysiology-based system that uses a processor circuit to detect electromagnetic fields and determine the location of a balloon within an anatomical cavity through geometric parameters, providing real-time visualization without the need for fluoroscopy or contrast agents, by computing conductance maps and detecting fault conditions in catheter-mounted electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fluoroscopy and contrast agents are used to guide balloon to the ablation site, then the balloon positioning can be visualized, but the procedure becomes invasive and imprecise for patients with contraindications to contrast agents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/imaging-based fluoroscopy system with an electrophysiological sensing system. Electrophysiology catheters with electrodes detect electrical signals from the heart to determine balloon position and orientation, substituting invasive imaging with electrical field detection that avoids contrast agents and reduces procedural invasiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electrophysiological signals as an intermediary medium to indicate balloon position. Instead of directly visualizing the balloon through fluoroscopy, the system uses electrical field changes detected by electrodes as an indirect indicator of balloon location and orientation, enabling visualization without ionizing radiation or contrast agents
2Loss of information
If conventional imaging techniques are used to guide balloon therapy, then balloon location can be detected, but the procedure time increases and procedural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrophysiology catheter serves multiple functions: it records cardiac electrical activity for diagnostic purposes and simultaneously detects balloon position and orientation through electrical field sensing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate imaging procedures, reducing overall procedure time while maintaining comprehensive information about balloon location
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the balloon positioning function with the electrophysiological recording function. By combining these two functions into a single integrated system using the same catheter and electrical sensing mechanism, the procedure eliminates redundant steps and reduces total procedure time while maintaining accurate balloon location detection
3Illumination intensity
If fluoroscopy is used to guide balloon positioning, then real-time visualization is provided, but radiation exposure increases and procedural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the fluoroscopy-based optical imaging system with an electrophysiological electrical field detection system. The electrodes detect changes in electrical fields caused by the balloon's presence and movement, providing real-time positional information without ionizing radiation, thereby eliminating radiation exposure while maintaining continuous visualization capability
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 precise and safe guidance of balloon therapy procedures by providing real-time visualization of the balloon's location and orientation within the anatomical cavity, reducing the reliance on invasive imaging techniques and improving procedural accuracy and patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
control a plurality of electrodes to detect an electromagnetic field and determine the location of the balloon based on the detected electromagnetic field
Implementation Method 2
providing real-time visualization without the need for fluoroscopy or contrast agents, by computing conductance maps
Data Source
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AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods for guiding a balloon therapy procedure by generating and outputting a visualization of the volumetric position of a balloon within an anatomical cavity are provided. For example, in one embodiment, a processor circuit is configured to control a plurality of electrodes to detect an electromagnetic field within the anatomical cavity, and determine, based on the detected electromagnetic field and a geometrical parameter associated with the balloon (e.g., size, shape of the balloon), a location of the balloon within the anatomical cavity. The processor circuit outputs a signal representation of a visualization of the balloon to guide placement of the therapeutic balloon. In some embodiments, the visualization is output to a display with a map of the anatomical cavity. The visualization may be updated based on detected movement of the balloon to provide a real time view of the location of the balloon within the anatomical cavity.