Balloon Catheter Tip Electrode Apertures for Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The tip electrode in existing ablation systems may overheat due to insufficient heat transfer during tissue ablation procedures, as the irrigating fluid does not effectively dissipate heat from the electrode.
Innovation Solution
The system includes additional apertures in the tip electrode for the irrigating fluid to flow through, with a separate fluid-delivery tube maintaining a constant fluid flow rate, ensuring effective heat transfer and preventing overheating by distributing heat through the fluid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the tip electrode is used for tissue ablation, then ablation effectiveness is improved, but the electrode overheats due to insufficient heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The tip electrode is segmented into multiple sections with apertures distributed along its length. This segmentation allows irrigating fluid to flow through multiple apertures rather than a single location, distributing heat dissipation along the electrode surface and preventing localized overheating while maintaining ablation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
An irrigating fluid is introduced as an intermediary substance between the tip electrode and the tissue. The fluid flows through apertures in the electrode, absorbing heat from the electrode surface through thermal conduction and convection, thereby acting as a heat transfer mediator that prevents electrode overheating during ablation.
2Device complexity
If irrigating fluid is delivered through the balloon only, then fluid flow is simple, but heat transfer from the tip electrode is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The irrigating fluid delivery system is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously. The fluid delivered through the balloon not only cools the balloon surface but also flows through apertures in the tip electrode to cool the electrode during ablation. This multi-functional fluid delivery approach improves heat transfer without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid delivery paths for the balloon and tip electrode are merged into a single integrated system. The same irrigating fluid that cools the balloon is directed to flow through the tip electrode apertures, combining the cooling functions of both components into one fluid delivery mechanism rather than requiring separate independent systems.
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
The additional apertures in the tip electrode facilitate efficient heat transfer from the electrode to the tissue, preventing overheating and ensuring effective ablation while maintaining fluid flow, thus enhancing the safety and efficacy of the ablation process.
Implementation Method 1
the irrigating fluid does not effectively dissipate heat from the electrode
Implementation Method 2
efficient heat transfer from the electrode to the tissue, preventing overheating
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B~3
AI summary
An apparatus includes a shaft, configured for insertion into a body of a subject, an inflatable balloon disposed over the shaft, a plurality of leaf electrodes coupled to the balloon and shaped to define one or more leaf-electrode apertures, a tip electrode disposed at a distal end of the balloon, coupled to a distal end of the shaft, and shaped to define one or more tip-electrode apertures, a first fluid-delivery tube passing through the shaft and configured to deliver a fluid into the balloon via at least one shaft aperture in the shaft, such that the fluid passes through the leaf-electrode apertures, and a second fluid-delivery tube passing through the shaft and configured to deliver the fluid to the tip electrode, such that the fluid passes through the tip-electrode apertures. Other embodiments are also described.