Electroporation Catheter Balloon Markings for Fluoroscopic Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheter localization and navigation systems for electroporation procedures require additional circuitry and software, which can complicate the determination of relative orientation and position, and often rely on contrast agents that may not be desirable in all scenarios.
Innovation Solution
The use of a selectively inflatable balloon with radiopaque markings on an electroporation catheter, which provides pitch, roll, and yaw information relative to the patient's anatomy, allowing for orientation determination without the need for additional circuitry or contrast agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If localization and navigation systems with additional circuitry and software are used to determine catheter orientation and position, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the localization function from complex electronic systems and implements it through simple radiopaque markings on the balloon catheter. These markings can be directly visualized using standard fluoroscopy, eliminating the need for additional localization circuitry and software while maintaining the ability to determine catheter orientation and position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses radiopaque markings that create a visual copy or representation of the catheter's position and orientation on fluoroscopic images. These markings serve as surrogate indicators that can be interpreted to determine spatial information without requiring complex electronic sensing or processing systems.
2Measurement precision
If contrast agents are used to assess occlusion and determine catheter orientation, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon catheter itself serves as the localization tool through its radiopaque markings, eliminating the need for external contrast agents. The catheter structure provides its own visualization capability, reducing substance loss while maintaining measurement precision for occlusion assessment and orientation determination.
3Loss of substance
If radiopaque markings are applied to the balloon instead of contrast agents, then loss of substance is reduced, but ease of operation may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The radiopaque markings are integrated into the balloon structure itself, creating a unified system where the visualization capability is inherent to the operational component. This integration ensures that the markings remain in optimal positions for orientation determination throughout the procedure, maintaining ease of operation while reducing contrast agent usage.
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 orientation and position determination of the catheter using fluoroscopy or ultrasound, eliminating the need for contrast agents and simplifying the procedure.
Implementation Method 1
The balloon comprises at least one radiopaque marking
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for electroporation catheters are disclosed herein. An electroporation catheter includes a shaft, and a plurality of splines forming a basket around a distal portion of the shaft, wherein each spline of the plurality of splines comprises at least one energizable electrode. The electroporation catheter further includes a balloon positioned within the basket formed by the plurality of splines, the balloon comprising at least one radiopaque marking.