Multi-Electrode Catheter Adapter for Mapping and Ablation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cardiac ablation and mapping procedures require separate catheters due to differing objectives, necessitating repositioning and additional guidance for ablation after mapping, which can lead to loss of signal position and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A multi-electrode catheter adapter that toggles between mapping and ablation states, allowing the same catheter to perform both functions by shorting or isolating electrodes for effective ablation and mapping, using RF or IRE techniques, and enabling immediate ablation at the mapped site without repositioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate catheters are used for mapping and ablation, then each catheter can be optimized for its specific function, but the procedure requires repositioning and additional guidance, leading to loss of signal position and increased complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is designed with multi-functionality to perform both mapping and ablation procedures. The end effector contains multiple electrodes that can be selectively activated for mapping signals or grouped for ablation energy delivery, eliminating the need for separate catheters and reducing repositioning requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter incorporates dynamic switching capability through an adapter that can toggle between mapping and ablation states. The circuitry dynamically reconfigures electrode connections based on the operational mode, allowing the same physical catheter to adapt its electrical configuration for different procedures.
2Productivity
If a single catheter is used for both mapping and ablation, then procedural efficiency is improved, but the catheter design must accommodate conflicting requirements for high-density electrodes and energy delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector is segmented into multiple independent electrodes arranged on spines, allowing selective activation of individual electrodes for mapping or grouping of specific electrodes for ablation. This segmentation enables the catheter to meet both high-density electrode requirements for mapping and energy delivery requirements for ablation.
Solution Approach 2:
An adapter device serves as an intermediary between the catheter and the external systems. The adapter contains circuitry that mediates the electrical connections, switching between mapping system connections and ablation generator connections, thereby enabling a single catheter to interface with different systems for different procedures.
3Measurement precision
If electrodes are electrically isolated for mapping, then signal acquisition is precise, but ablation cannot be performed without repositioning or additional electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical isolation between electrodes is dynamic rather than fixed. During mapping, the adapter circuitry maintains electrical isolation to enable precise signal acquisition from each electrode. During ablation, the same circuitry can be reconfigured to electrically connect electrodes in series or parallel configurations, enabling energy delivery without repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical connectivity parameter of the electrodes is changed between operational modes. The adapter modifies the electrical circuit configuration by switching connections based on whether mapping or ablation is required, allowing the electrodes to transition from isolated measurement状态 to connected energy delivery状态.
4Reliability
If high voltage pulses are applied for IRE ablation, then cell death is achieved, but the same electrodes must be capable of precise electrical isolation for mapping
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector electrodes are segmented into independently controllable units that can be selectively activated. For IRE ablation, specific segmented electrodes can be activated with high voltage pulses while others remain isolated for mapping, enabling both ablation effectiveness and mapping precision through the same physical electrode structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter acts as an intermediary that manages the complex electrical control requirements. It provides the high voltage pulse delivery for IRE ablation while simultaneously maintaining the electrical isolation needed for mapping when not in use, thereby reducing the overall device complexity by centralizing the control function.
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 simultaneous mapping and ablation with a single catheter, maintaining the signal position and reducing procedural complexity and time by delivering energy through the same electrodes, thus improving treatment efficiency and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
Presently the most common ablation technique involves applying radio frequency (RF) electrical signals via electrodes to tissue to generate heat
Implementation Method 2
The circuitry can short together a group of electrodes in the ablation state and electrically isolate the electrodes in that group from each other when in the mapping state
Implementation Method 3
The circuitry can short together a group of electrodes in the ablation state and electrically isolate the electrodes in that group from each other when in the mapping state
Implementation Method 4
Irreversible electroporation (IRE) ablation is a more recently developed technique which involves applying short duration high voltage pulses across tissue to cause cell death
Data Source
AI summary
An adapter can include circuitry that can toggle between a mapping state and an ablation state. In the mapping state the circuitry can connect the catheter to a mapping system so that the catheter can measure electrical signals from multiple independent electrodes on an end effector of the catheter. In the ablation state the circuitry can connect the catheter to an ablation generator so that the catheter can apply electrical signals to the electrodes to ablate using IRE and/or RF techniques. The circuitry can short together a group of electrodes in the ablation state and electrically isolate the electrodes in that group from each other when in the mapping state. Using the adapter, the catheter can ablate and map at a treatment site without having to be repositioned between the mapping and ablation steps.