Catheter Single-Action Dual Deflection Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrode catheters face challenges in efficiently ablating cardiac tissue due to impedance rise from dehydrated blood protein formation, leading to potential blood coagulation and reduced effectiveness in treating cardiac arrhythmias like atrial flutter and fibrillation, especially in drug-refractory patients.
Innovation Solution
A deflectable catheter with a single-action dual deflection mechanism, utilizing a hinged tube and puller wires for controlled angular deflection, allowing precise positioning of the tip electrode parallel to tissue for improved ablation efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If tip electrodes are dragged perpendicular to tissue during ablation, then ablation can be performed, but positioning precision and control are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates a deflectable intermediate section with puller wires that allow dynamic adjustment of the catheter's angular position. This enables the tip electrode to be positioned parallel to the tissue surface through controlled deflection, improving positioning precision while maintaining operational flexibility during ablation procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is divided into distinct sections: a proximal section, a deflectable intermediate section with hinged tubes and puller wires, and a distal tip section. This segmentation allows independent control of the intermediate section's deflection angle, enabling precise positioning of the tip electrode parallel to tissue without complicating the overall catheter structure
2Reliability
If ablation is performed with traditional catheter positioning, then tissue ablation can be achieved, but impedance rise and blood coagulation risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The deflectable intermediate section allows the catheter tip to be dynamically positioned parallel to the tissue surface, ensuring optimal contact between the tip electrode and tissue. This parallel positioning maintains consistent electrical contact during ablation, reducing impedance rise and minimizing the risk of blood coagulation while improving ablation effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the angular orientation parameter of the catheter tip from perpendicular to parallel relative to the tissue surface, the electrical contact characteristics are optimized. This parameter change reduces impedance during ablation and decreases the likelihood of blood coagulation, thereby improving treatment reliability
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3B
Figure 4A
AI summary
A catheter and method for the treatment of a patient having atrial flutter or other arrhythmia comprises an elongated catheter body having an outer wall, proximal and distal ends, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. Further it has a distal tip section comprising a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end and a plurality of lumens extending therethrough. The proximal end of the tip section is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section further comprises a nitinol tube having slots formed therein which causes the distal tip section to deflect using the same puller-wire action used to cause the deflectable catheter to deflect at a point proximal to the distal tip section.