Catheter Stability Indication via Irrigation Temperature Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for verifying electrode contact with cardiac tissue during ablation procedures are inadequate in controlling local heating, leading to either ineffective lesions or excessive heating issues, which can result in undesirable tissue damage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating temperature-sensing elements in cardiac catheters to monitor temperature distributions and irrigation fluid flow, allowing for determination of stable or unstable catheter-tissue contact before delivering ablation energy, thereby controlling the ablation process effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If impedance-based methods are used to assess catheter-tissue contact, then contact detection is simple, but the method is sensitive to changes in impedance between body-surface electrode and skin, leading to unreliable contact verification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces temperature as an intermediary parameter to assess catheter-tissue contact stability. Instead of directly measuring contact force or impedance, the system uses temperature changes at the catheter-tissue interface (caused by irrigation fluid) as an indirect indicator of stable contact, thereby avoiding the reliability issues of impedance-based methods while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/electrical contact assessment methods (impedance measurement) with thermal field-based assessment. By substituting the mechanical contact detection approach with temperature measurement, the system achieves more reliable contact verification that is not sensitive to electrical impedance variations between electrodes and skin
2Productivity
If ablation energy is delivered without stable contact verification, then procedure time is reduced, but excessive heating occurs causing tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary temperature assessment during the irrigation phase before delivering ablation energy. By evaluating temperature changes at the catheter-tissue interface during the cooling/irrigation stage, the system determines contact stability in advance, allowing efficient procedure progression while ensuring safe energy delivery conditions are met before ablation begins
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring temperature at the catheter-tissue interface and using this information to control ablation energy delivery. The temperature measurements provide real-time feedback on contact stability, allowing the system to adjust or prevent energy delivery to avoid excessive heating and tissue damage
3Manufacturing precision
If temperature-sensing elements are added to catheters, then ablation control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the irrigation system serve multiple functions: it cools the tissue during ablation and simultaneously acts as a temperature sensing mechanism. The irrigation fluid flow path doubles as a thermal probe, allowing temperature assessment without adding separate sensing elements, thereby maintaining ablation control precision while avoiding increased device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the irrigation system to self-assess contact stability through temperature measurements of the irrigation fluid itself. The irrigation fluid serves its primary cooling function while simultaneously providing thermal information about catheter-tissue contact, allowing the system to monitor ablation conditions without requiring additional dedicated sensing components
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
This approach enables precise control of ablation energy delivery, reducing the risk of excessive heating and improving the effectiveness of lesion creation by ensuring stable contact between the catheter and tissue.
Implementation Method 1
introducing a probe having a temperature sensor on its distal portion into a fluid-filled body cavity of a subject
Implementation Method 2
passing an irrigating fluid through the probe, wherein the irrigating fluid exits the probe at its distal portion and wherein the temperature of the irrigating fluid is different from the temperature of the body cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A probe having a temperature sensor on its distal portion is introduced into a fluid-filled body cavity of a subject, and an irrigating fluid passed through the probe. The temperature of the irrigating fluid exiting the probe differs from the temperature of the body cavity. Temperature readings of the irrigating fluid exiting the probe are recorded. A determination is made from the temperature readings that predetermined contact criteria between the probe and the interior wall of the body cavity are satisfied.