Catheter Flex Tip Fluid Lumen Assembly Thermal Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheter technologies face challenges in accurately monitoring temperature during RF ablation procedures due to stress points in thermal sensors, leading to inaccurate readings and potential tissue damage from excessive heat.
Innovation Solution
A flexible tip catheter assembly with a thermocouple routed around a portion of the longitudinal axis, reducing stress points and improving flexibility, combined with a fluid lumen manifold for irrigation, and a coil for structural integrity, allowing for accurate temperature monitoring and reduced tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the thermocouple is routed linearly through the catheter assembly, then the temperature monitoring function is provided, but stress points occur in the thermal sensor leading to inaccurate readings
Solution Approach 1:
The thermocouple is routed in a curved or coiled path around a portion of the longitudinal axis of the catheter assembly rather than in a straight line. This curved routing distributes mechanical stress along the length of the thermocouple, preventing stress concentration at single points and thereby maintaining thermal sensor reliability while preserving temperature monitoring accuracy
2Adaptability or versatility
If the catheter tip is made flexible to navigate vasculature, then the ability to reach target sites is improved, but maintaining structural integrity and neutral position becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter assembly is divided into distinct functional segments: a flexible tip section for navigation, a mid-section with the thermocouple routing, and a proximal section for control. This segmentation allows each portion to have optimized properties - the tip remains flexible for vasculature navigation while the overall assembly maintains structural integrity and neutral position stability through the distributed design
Solution Approach 2:
The flexibility and stiffness parameters of the catheter are varied along its length, with the distal tip having higher flexibility for navigation and the proximal portions having increased stiffness to maintain structural integrity and neutral position. This gradient in mechanical properties resolves the contradiction between flexibility and stability
3Productivity
If RF ablation energy is applied to create lesions, then arrhythmia treatment is achieved, but excessive heat generation causes tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The thermocouple provides real-time temperature feedback from within the catheter assembly during RF ablation. This feedback enables closed-loop temperature control where the RF power can be adjusted or terminated based on measured temperatures, ensuring effective lesion creation while preventing excessive heat generation that would cause tissue damage such as steam pop or charring
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 temperature monitoring accuracy and flexibility, reducing the risk of tissue damage and improving the precision of ablation procedures by alleviating stress on the thermal sensor and maintaining the catheter's neutral position.
Implementation Method 1
a thermocouple can be positioned at a distal end of the catheter
Implementation Method 2
a coil can extend between the distal end of the proximal stem and the proximal end of the electrode cap
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter tip is disclosed comprising a proximal stem that comprises a lumen. An electrode wall that comprises a center cavity can be coupled to the distal end of the proximal stem. An electrode cap can be coupled to a distal end of the electrode wall. An elongate thermocouple element can extend through the lumen of the proximal stem and the center cavity and can be coupled to the electrode cap. The elongate thermocouple element can be turned around a portion of a longitudinal axis defined by the catheter tip assembly.