Bilateral Tissue Ablation Guidance for Complete Lesion Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tissue ablation procedures, such as those for treating arrhythmias, often require lesions to be formed through the entire thickness of tissues like the pericardium, but applying ablation signals to one side may result in incomplete lesions, making it difficult to determine accurate positions for additional ablation on the opposite side due to the 3D structure of the heart.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a catheter with position sensors and a processor that calculates and displays suggested ablation locations on the opposite side of the tissue based on previously formed lesions, using a 3D anatomical map to guide physicians in forming complete lesions through the entire thickness of the tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ablation signals are applied to one side of the tissue, then the ablation procedure is simpler and faster, but the lesion may be incomplete and fail to terminate the arrhythmia
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mapping of the tissue surface and calculates projected lesion positions on the opposite side before completing the ablation procedure. This preliminary action guides the physician to apply ablation signals to both sides of the tissue, ensuring complete lesion formation while maintaining procedural efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback by displaying markers on the opposite tissue surface that indicate where lesions should be applied. This feedback mechanism ensures that ablation signals are applied to both sides of the tissue at appropriate locations, improving lesion completeness without significantly increasing procedural complexity.
2Reliability
If ablation signals are applied to both sides of the tissue, then complete lesions are formed, but it is difficult to determine accurate positions for additional ablation on the opposite side due to the 3D structure of the heart
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary computational layer that maps the 3D tissue structure and calculates projected positions. The processor receives images of the tissue surface, determines lesion positions, and computes corresponding positions on the opposite side, thereby mediating the complexity of 3D anatomy and providing simplified guidance to the physician.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy or representation of the tissue surface with calculated lesion positions. By displaying markers that represent the projected positions on the opposite side, the system provides a simplified 2D representation that guides the physician through the complex 3D anatomy, making it easier to determine accurate ablation positions.
3Reliability
If the physician manually navigates the ablation catheter to apply additional ablation signals, then complete lesions may be formed, but the procedure time increases and the process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of the optimal ablation positions on the opposite tissue side before the physician applies ablation signals. By pre-computing and displaying the projected lesion positions, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming manual navigation and trial-and-error approaches, thereby reducing procedural time while ensuring complete lesions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time visual feedback by displaying markers indicating the optimal positions for ablation on the opposite side. This feedback allows the physician to quickly and accurately apply ablation signals without extensive manual navigation, reducing procedural time while maintaining lesion completeness.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a display and a processor. The display is configured to display at least a map of an organ having tissue including first and second surfaces that are facing one another. The processor is configured to: (i) receive a first position of a first lesion formed by ablating the first surface, (ii) calculate on the second surface, a second position that is facing the first position, and (iii) display, over the map, a marker indicative of the second position for guiding a user to produce in the tissue a second lesion facing the first lesion.