Basket Cardiac Mapping Catheter with Flexible Splines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cardiac mapping catheters struggle to provide stable and complete electrograms of the heart's electrical activity, particularly in the irregularly shaped atria, due to their inability to conform adequately to the heart's anatomy and maintain consistent electrode positioning during heartbeats.
Innovation Solution
A percutaneous basket style cardiac mapping catheter system with flexible spline tube assemblies and electrodes, designed to acquire multiple simultaneous endocardial electrograms from a three-dimensional array of surface electrodes, allowing for improved conformation to the heart's shape and stable electrode positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid catheter structures are used, then structural stability is improved, but ability to conform to irregular heart anatomy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple rigid splines (typically 6-12 splines) that are hinged together at proximal and distal ends, creating a basket structure. Each spline can independently conform to the heart chamber geometry while maintaining its own structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between overall stability and local adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The basket catheter employs dynamic hinged joints between splines that allow the structure to flex and adapt to the beating heart's changing geometry. The splines can pivot relative to each other, enabling the rigid structure to dynamically conform to irregular atrial or ventricular surfaces during cardiac cycles.
2Device complexity
If electrodes are positioned along a catheter shaft, then device simplicity is improved, but mapping completeness in irregular regions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode array transitions from a one-dimensional linear arrangement along a catheter shaft to a two-dimensional or three-dimensional basket structure with splines extending radially outward. This dimensional expansion allows electrodes to contact multiple surfaces of irregular heart chambers simultaneously, achieving complete mapping coverage while maintaining relatively simple device construction.
3Ease of manufacture
If the catheter structure is simplified, then ease of manufacture is improved, but electrode positioning stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is segmented into multiple rigid splines hinged together, where each spline acts as an independent structural unit with electrodes positioned along its length. This segmentation allows each spline to maintain stable electrode positioning through its inherent rigidity, while the overall basket structure remains relatively simple to manufacture using standard medical device fabrication techniques.
4Device complexity
If the catheter does not conform to heart shape, then device simplicity is improved, but electrogram stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The basket catheter employs dynamic hinged joints between splines that allow the structure to flex and adapt to the beating heart's changing geometry. The splines can pivot relative to each other, enabling the rigid structure to dynamically conform to irregular atrial or ventricular surfaces during cardiac cycles, thereby maintaining stable electrogram recordings without excessive structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for sensing multiple local electric voltages from endocardial surface of a heart, includes: an elongate tubular member having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of flexible splines; an anchor for securably affixing the proximal portions of the splines, where the anchor is securably affixed within the lumen of the elongate tubular member at the distal end of the elongate tubular member; and a metallic tip for securably affixing the distal portions of the splines.