Catheter Spine Array for High Density Cardiac Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheters for cardiac tissue diagnostics and ablation lack the ability to provide high-density mapping and adaptable electrode placement on irregular heart tissue surfaces, leading to suboptimal signal resolution and consistency during arrhythmia treatment.
Innovation Solution
A catheter with a distal electrode matrix featuring a plurality of spines arranged in a parallel configuration, allowing for uniform electrode placement and maintenance of predetermined spacing, enabling high-density mapping and ablation by dragging the matrix across the tissue surface while maintaining electrode contact and consistency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a catheter uses a traditional electrode array configuration, then the device structure is simple, but the mapping resolution and signal density are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode array is segmented into multiple spines, each carrying multiple electrodes in a grid formation. This segmentation allows the catheter to achieve high-density mapping capability while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular organization of electrodes along the spines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional planar electrode arrangements to a three-dimensional spine-based grid structure. Multiple spines extend in parallel with electrodes positioned at predetermined intervals along each spine, creating a volumetric sensing array that enhances mapping resolution by utilizing spatial distribution in multiple dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a catheter uses fixed electrode spacing, then manufacturing is simple, but adaptability to irregular tissue surfaces is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates a deflection mechanism that allows the spine array to dynamically adjust its configuration. When the catheter is deflected, the spines maintain their parallel arrangement while adapting to contact with irregular tissue surfaces, enabling the electrode array to conform to various anatomical geometries while preserving predetermined electrode spacing through the rigid spine structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The spine structure acts as a flexible yet structurally stable framework that can bend and conform to tissue surfaces while maintaining the geometric integrity of the electrode grid. The spines are designed to flex with the catheter body during deflection but preserve the predetermined spacing between electrodes, combining flexibility with structural precision.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a catheter is made rigid to maintain electrode spacing, then electrode positioning is precise, but the catheter cannot be collapsed for vascular advancement
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode-bearing spines are segmented from the main catheter body, allowing them to function as independent structural elements. This segmentation enables the spines to maintain their rigid parallel configuration and predetermined electrode spacing when needed, while the overall catheter can be collapsed by flexing the segmented structure during advancement and withdrawal through vasculature.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter system exhibits dynamic structural behavior: during navigation, the spines can be collapsed or flexed to reduce profile for vascular passage; during mapping, the spines are positioned to maintain rigid parallel configuration with stable electrode spacing. The transition between these states is controlled through catheter deflection mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter adapted or high density mapping and/or ablation of tissue surface has a distal electrode matrix having a plurality of spines arranged in parallel configuration on which a multitude of electrodes are carried in a grid formation for providing uniformity and predictability in electrode placement on the tissue surface. The matrix can be dragged against the tissue surface upon deflection (and/or release of the deflection) of the catheter. The spines generally maintain their parallel configuration and the multitude of electrodes generally maintain their predetermined relative spacing in the grid formation as the matrix is dragged across the tissue surface in providing very high density mapping signals. The spines may have free distal ends, or distal ends that are joined to form loops for maintaining the spines in parallel configuration.