Catheter Navigation with Surface Geometry Modeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional navigation systems face challenges in accurately determining the location of medical devices, such as balloon catheters, relative to anatomical features due to a lack of correlation between navigation electrodes and the ablating surface, which complicates the delivery of therapy in minimally invasive procedures.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a medical device with navigation electrodes and a processing unit to calculate the surface geometry of treatment elements, estimate contact likelihood with anatomical features, and display contact zones, allowing for precise positioning and therapy delivery by defining points on the anatomical feature closest to the treatment element points and assigning contact probabilities based on distance thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional navigation electrodes are used to locate the medical device, then the navigation system can detect device position, but the location does not accurately correlate with the ablating surface (e.g., balloon surface)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy or representation of the treatment element's surface geometry in the navigation system. By mapping the physical balloon surface to a digital model that correlates with navigation electrode positions, the system achieves accurate location determination without adding physical navigation electrodes to the catheter structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate computational model that bridges the gap between navigation electrode detections and treatment element location. This intermediary representation allows the navigation system to infer treatment element position indirectly through mathematical relationships rather than direct electrode-treatment element correlation.
2Measurement precision
If additional navigation electrodes are added to improve device location accuracy, then location precision improves, but catheter design, manufacture, and steering become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the navigation functionality from the catheter structure itself by using a separate computational model. Instead of embedding navigation electrodes throughout the catheter, the system separates the detection function (existing navigation electrodes) from the localization function (computational surface geometry model), eliminating the need for additional electrodes in catheter manufacturing.
3Reliability
If the medical device uses a complex geometry treatment element (e.g., expandable balloon), then treatment effectiveness improves, but determining the location of the ablating surface becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary computational work to establish the surface geometry model before actual therapy delivery. By pre-calculating and storing the relationship between navigation electrode positions and treatment element surface geometry, the system prepares the localization framework in advance, making real-time location determination straightforward during procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from tracking discrete navigation electrode positions (point data) to representing the entire treatment element surface (surface geometry). This dimensional expansion from 0D points to 2D surfaces allows comprehensive location determination of complex geometries like expandable balloons by defining multiple points that collectively represent the ablating surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for determining a location of a treatment element relative to an anatomical feature and for estimating contact between the treatment element and the anatomical feature in the context of a navigation system. The system may include a medical device including at least one treatment element and at least one navigation electrode and a navigation system in communication with the one or more navigation electrodes, the navigation system including a processing unit. The processing unit may be programmed to determine a plurality of points that define a surface geometry of the at least one treatment element, calculate a distance between each of the points and a closest point on the anatomical feature, and estimate the likelihood of contact between the points.