Catheter Position Sensing for Precise Injection Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for delivering therapeutic substances, such as gene therapy, to internal tissues face challenges in precision due to the inability to specifically target and control the depth of injection, leading to inefficiencies in treating conditions like ischemic heart disease.
Innovation Solution
A catheter system equipped with position sensing electrodes and contact sensors that allow for precise localization and depth control of a therapy delivery needle within internal tissues, ensuring accurate placement and injection of therapeutic substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a catheter is used to deliver therapeutic substance proximate to internal tissue, then invasiveness is reduced, but the ability to directly inject target tissue and control injection depth is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested structure where a needle is inserted within the catheter shaft. The catheter serves as an outer protective sheath that can be guided to the target location with minimal invasiveness, while the inner needle can be extended through the catheter tip to achieve direct tissue injection. This nested configuration allows the system to combine the low-invasiveness advantage of catheter delivery with the precise injection capability of needle delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery system is segmented into distinct functional components: the catheter shaft for navigation and positioning, the extendable needle for injection, and the therapeutic substance reservoir. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the catheter for minimally invasive access and the needle for controlled depth injection - thereby resolving the contradiction between reducing invasiveness and maintaining injection precision.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If therapeutic substance is delivered proximate to internal tissue without direct injection, then invasiveness is reduced, but treatment effectiveness is decreased due to inability to ensure proper depth
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is designed to be dynamically extendable and retractable relative to the catheter shaft. During the procedure, the needle can be extended beyond the catheter tip to achieve the desired injection depth, then retracted for safe removal. This dynamic configuration enables the system to maintain low invasiveness during navigation while ensuring reliable direct injection at the target depth, thereby resolving the contradiction between reduced invasiveness and treatment effectiveness.
3Measurement precision
If open-chest procedure is used for direct injection, then injection precision is improved, but invasiveness and procedural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical open-chest surgical approach with a minimally invasive catheter-based delivery system. The catheter can be navigated to the target tissue through existing access points (such as veins), eliminating the need for open surgery. The system maintains injection precision through the extendable needle mechanism and positioning capabilities, thereby resolving the contradiction between injection precision and procedural complexity.
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 targeted and controlled delivery of therapeutic substances to specific depths within internal tissues, enhancing the effectiveness of treatments like gene therapy for conditions like ischemic heart disease by ensuring precise needle insertion and substance distribution.
Implementation Method 1
one or more position sensing electrodes positioned at or near a distal end of the shaft
Implementation Method 2
one or more contact sensors, such as mechanical/pressure, impedance and/or optical sensors to provide an indication of contact and/or contact forces
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided for identifying the position of a catheter relative to internal tissue and controlling injection of a therapeutic substance(s) into the internal tissue. In one embodiment, a catheter includes one or more position sensing electrodes disposed at or near a distal end of the catheter that allow identifying the position of the catheter relative to the internal tissue. The catheter also includes one or more contact sensors that provide an indication of contact and/or contact forces between the catheter and internal tissue before and after a therapy delivery needle is extended from the catheter into the internal tissue. Outputs of the contact sensor(s) allows for confirming insertion of the therapy delivery needle into the internal tissue to a desired depth. Once inserted to the desired depth, a therapeutic substance may be injected into the internal tissue at the desired depth.