Catheter Electrodes for Bipolar Ablation and Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cardiac ablation technologies face challenges in creating continuous and deep lesions for treating cardiac arrhythmias due to suboptimal electrode spacing and mapping signal interference, which affects the efficacy of ablation procedures.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with a treatment element featuring electrodes arranged in pairs with specific spacing configurations, allowing for bipolar energy delivery between pairs while disconnecting for mapping and navigation, and utilizing concave electrodes and insulated protuberant segments to enhance lesion formation and mapping signal quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electrodes are spaced closely together, then mapping signal quality is improved, but bipolar ablation effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode array is segmented into multiple pairs of electrodes along the catheter shaft. Each pair can be independently configured for either mapping or ablation functions. This segmentation allows the catheter to perform both mapping and bipolar ablation effectively by utilizing different electrode pairs for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter system dynamically switches between mapping mode and ablation mode by reconfiguring electrode connections. During mapping, electrodes are connected to the recording system; during ablation, selected electrode pairs are connected to the energy generator. This dynamic reconfiguration resolves the contradiction between close spacing for mapping and adequate spacing for ablation.
2Reliability
If electrodes are spaced far apart, then bipolar ablation effectiveness is improved, but mapping signal quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode array is segmented into multiple pairs of electrodes along the catheter shaft. Each pair can be independently configured for either mapping or ablation functions. This segmentation allows the catheter to perform both mapping and bipolar ablation effectively by utilizing different electrode pairs for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The same electrode pairs are designed to serve dual purposes: they can be used for high-fidelity mapping when connected to the recording system and for bipolar ablation when connected to the energy generator. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate electrode sets and resolves the spacing contradiction.
3Reliability
If continuous lesions are created over large areas, then treatment efficacy is improved, but energy delivery complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple electrode pairs are activated simultaneously or sequentially to deliver continuous energy along the catheter contact surface. This creates continuous lesions over large areas without interruption, improving treatment efficacy while the automated control system manages the complexity of coordinating multiple electrodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy delivery system uses periodic pulsed electric field delivery through multiple electrode pairs. Pulses are applied in a coordinated sequence across different electrode pairs to build up continuous lesions progressively, managing energy delivery complexity through rhythmic, controlled activation patterns.
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
The solution enhances lesion formation depth and uniformity, improves mapping signal quality, and allows for more precise energy delivery, leading to more effective treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.
Implementation Method 1
transmit ablation energy to the plurality of electrodes such that energy is delivered between electrode pairs
Implementation Method 2
medical device configured to ablate and map tissue
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for enhancing the efficiency and efficacy of energy delivery and tissue mapping. One system includes a treatment element having a plurality of electrodes and an energy generator configured to deliver electric energy pulses to the electrodes in a variety of patterns. For example, electrodes may be arranged in closely spaced pairs. The energy generator may deliver mapping energy to each electrode in each pair individually to map tissue and may deliver ablation energy to the electrodes in each pair together, such that each pair is treated like a single electrode, to deliver ablation energy, such as bipolar ablation energy between adjacent pairs. One system includes at least one concave electrode, the configuration of which concentrates the energy and drives it deeper into the tissue. One system includes neutral electrodes between active electrodes, the energy generator selectively coupling the neutral electrodes to alter the ablation pattern.