Basket Catheter Electrode Density via Nested Coiled Wiring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrophysiology catheters face challenges in achieving high electrode density while maintaining a minimized overall diameter to facilitate percutaneous advancement and deployment within the heart, as increasing electrode numbers lead to undesirable increases in catheter diameter.
Innovation Solution
A basket-shaped electrode assembly with multiple spines, each carrying multiple electrodes, and cabling with coiled wires on a core, covered by a sheath, allowing for both expanded and collapsed configurations to maintain a small diameter, utilizing an expander for radial expansion and contraction, and potentially incorporating shape memory alloys for flexible wire support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of electrodes in the basket assembly is increased to improve coverage and reduce repositioning needs, then the electrode density and mapping capability are improved, but the overall diameter of the catheter increases making percutaneous advancement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing multiple wires coiled on a single core, with each wire carrying multiple electrodes. The wires are nested concentrically on the core, allowing high electrode density while maintaining a compact overall structure that fits within a small catheter diameter for percutaneous advancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a linear arrangement of electrodes to a three-dimensional basket assembly with spines extending radially outward. This spatial dimensionality change allows electrodes to be distributed across a larger surface area, increasing coverage and electrode density without proportionally increasing the catheter's insertion diameter.
2Productivity
If more electrodes are added to the basket assembly to detect electrical activity in fewer beats, then the productivity and mapping speed are improved, but the device complexity and cabling requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual wire connections into a unified cabling structure where multiple wires are coiled on a single core and covered by a common sheath. This consolidation reduces the number of separate connection points and simplifies the overall cabling architecture while supporting high electrode density for rapid mapping.
Solution Approach 2:
The core structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical support for coiling multiple wires, maintains structural integrity during catheter advancement, and enables the basket assembly to achieve both collapsed (for insertion) and expanded (for mapping) configurations. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity despite the high number of electrodes.
3Loss of time
If the basket assembly is designed with high electrode density to eliminate repositioning, then the time required for comprehensive mapping is reduced, but the catheter diameter increases affecting ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic functionality by designing the basket assembly to transition between collapsed and expanded configurations. During advancement, the basket is collapsed to minimize diameter and facilitate percutaneous insertion. Once positioned, the basket expands to provide high electrode density for comprehensive mapping without repositioning, thus resolving the contradiction between time efficiency and ease of operation.
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 accurate mapping of electrical activity within a single heartbeat with high electrode density, reducing the need for repositioning and allowing for effective deployment in heart chambers while maintaining a small catheter diameter, facilitating rapid and comprehensive electrical signal detection.
Implementation Method 1
cabling having a corresponding plurality of wires coiled on a core
Implementation Method 2
potentially incorporating shape memory alloys for flexible wire support
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure is directed to a catheter having a basket-shaped electrode assembly with a high electrode density. The basket-shaped electrode assembly may have a plurality of spines, such as up to twelve, each with a plurality of electrodes, such as up to sixteen. Each spine may have cabling with embedded coiled wires such that each electrode is attached through the sheath to one of the wires.