Catheter Electrode Visualization for Cardiac Ablation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cardiac ablation procedures rely heavily on the subjective skill of the surgeon, resulting in high variability in clinical outcomes due to the lack of objective methods for determining the precise areas for ablation.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses electrodes on a catheter to sense tissue electrical potentials, determines peak electrical potentials exceeding a threshold, and displays visual characteristics on a rendering of the heart to identify areas for ablation, leveraging machine learning and cloud-based platforms for data analysis to optimize treatment plans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional subjective surgical skill is used to determine ablation areas, then the procedure is simple to perform, but the clinical outcomes show high variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/subjective assessment system with an automated computational system. Machine learning algorithms analyze electrical potential data to objectively identify ablation areas, substituting the surgeon's subjective skill with an automated decision-support system that provides consistent, data-driven recommendations across different procedures and surgeons.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational layer between data collection and surgical decision-making. The machine learning model acts as a mediator that processes raw electrical potential measurements and translates them into actionable ablation zone recommendations, bridging the gap between complex data and clinical decisions while maintaining reliability.
2Measurement precision
If electrical potential data is visualized with detailed visual characteristics, then the precision of ablation area identification is improved, but the complexity of the visualization system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color-coded visual characteristics to represent different levels of electrical potential activity and ablation zone probabilities. By mapping complex electrical data to intuitive color gradients and visual patterns, the system achieves high measurement precision while maintaining visualization simplicity that is easy for surgeons to interpret during procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms multi-dimensional electrical potential data into a two-dimensional visual representation on the organ surface. By projecting complex electrical activity measurements onto the anatomical surface with layered visual characteristics, the system preserves detailed information while presenting it in a comprehensible format that enhances precision without overwhelming complexity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple electrical potential measurements are analyzed to determine peak potentials, then the accuracy of ablation target identification is improved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing of electrical potential data during the mapping phase, organizing and pre-analyzing measurements before the ablation decision is required. By pre-computing peak potentials and organizing data structures in advance, the system reduces real-time processing requirements while maintaining high accuracy in ablation target identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces time-consuming manual analysis of multiple electrical measurements with automated machine learning algorithms. These algorithms efficiently process large datasets of electrical potential measurements to identify peak potentials and ablation targets, achieving high accuracy while significantly reducing processing time compared to traditional manual methods.
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
This approach allows for more objective identification of areas for ablation, reducing variability and improving clinical outcomes by providing a data-driven method for determining optimal treatment plans based on prior patient data.
Implementation Method 1
sensing a plurality of tissue electrical potentials at an organ area of the organ by one or more electrodes on the catheter
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, and systems for medical procedures are disclosed herein and include sensing a plurality of tissue electrical potentials at an organ area of an organ, by one or more electrodes on a catheter, determining a number of peak electrical potentials from the plurality of first tissue electrical potentials such that the a peak electrical potential exceeds a potential threshold, determining a first visual characteristic based on the number of peak electrical potential and displaying a rendering of the organ comprising the organ area such that the rendering of the first organ area comprises the first visual characteristic.