Catheter with Integrated Electrodes and Therapy Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheter structures can locate gastric myoelectrical activity but fail to deliver therapy effectively at the source and evaluate its effectiveness simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A catheter structure with electrodes and a separate therapy delivery system that allows for endoscopic insertion into an intra-abdominal organ, enabling the localization of main pathways of electrical generation and simultaneous therapy delivery, such as ablation, stimulation, or marking, while monitoring the therapy's effectiveness using an electroviscerogram system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a catheter structure is used to locate gastric myoelectrical activity, then the source of electrical generation can be identified, but therapy cannot be delivered or evaluated simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter structure integrates multiple functions including localization electrodes for identifying gastric myoelectrical activity sources, therapy delivery structures for providing therapeutic interventions, and evaluation capabilities for assessing treatment effectiveness. This multi-functional integration allows a single device to perform diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation without requiring separate instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines previously separate functions (localization, therapy delivery, and evaluation) into a single integrated catheter structure. The electrodes and therapy delivery structures are positioned to work together at the same anatomical location, enabling simultaneous or sequential performance of multiple tasks that were previously required separate devices.
2Reliability
If separate instruments are used for localization and therapy delivery, then each function can be optimized, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines previously separate functions (localization, therapy delivery, and evaluation) into a single integrated catheter structure. The electrodes and therapy delivery structures are positioned to work together at the same anatomical location, enabling simultaneous or sequential performance of multiple tasks that were previously required separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter structure integrates multiple functions including localization electrodes for identifying gastric myoelectrical activity sources, therapy delivery structures for providing therapeutic interventions, and evaluation capabilities for assessing treatment effectiveness. This multi-functional integration allows a single device to perform diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation without requiring separate instruments.
3Ease of operation
If therapy is delivered without simultaneous evaluation, then treatment can be applied, but effectiveness cannot be monitored in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter structure incorporates evaluation structures that monitor the effectiveness of therapy delivery in real-time. The electrodes continue to record gastric myoelectrical activity during and after therapy delivery, providing immediate feedback on treatment effectiveness. This feedback mechanism allows clinicians to assess whether the therapeutic intervention achieved the desired physiological change.
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 localization and treatment of targeted tissue within the organ, allowing for real-time evaluation of therapy effectiveness compared to baseline rhythms, improving treatment outcomes for conditions like dyspepsia and gastric dysrhythmias.
Implementation Method 1
Three electrodes associated with the distal end of the tube structure are constructed and arranged to obtain signals relating to myoelectrical activity internally of an intra-abdominal organ
Implementation Method 2
Therapy delivery structure, associated with the distal end of the tube structure and separate from the electrodes, is constructed and arranged to provide therapy at the targeted tissue
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~6
Figure 7
AI summary
A catheter structure is provided for use with an electroviscerogram (EVG) system. The catheter structure includes an elongated tube structure having distal and proximal ends. Three electrodes are associated with distal end of the tube structure and are constructed and arranged obtain signals relating to myoelectrical activity internally of an intra-abdominal organ to thereby locate targeted tissue that includes main pathways of electrical generation in the organ. Therapy delivery structure, associated with the distal end of the tube structure and separate from the electrodes, is constructed and arranged to provide therapy at the targeted tissue simultaneously as the electrodes obtain the signals at the targeted tissue so that effectiveness of the therapy can be monitored.