Multi-Port Catheter Tip with Optical Waveguides for Lesion Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ablation catheters lack real-time monitoring capabilities for lesion formation during procedures, making it difficult to assess the effectiveness of ablation lesions and potentially leading to additional medical procedures for correction, and they do not adequately detect charred tissue or coagulated blood, which can cause complications like steam pops.
Innovation Solution
A catheter equipped with optical waveguides that transmit and receive light energy to and from the tip electrode, allowing for real-time qualitative and quantitative assessment of lesion formation, including detection of char, coagulum, and tissue health, while minimizing stress on the waveguides and avoiding contact with tissue to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If electrical impedance measurement is used to evaluate lesions during ablation, then real-time monitoring is provided, but only location data is obtained without qualitative information on lesion effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical impedance measurement with optical measurement using fiber optic waveguides. The optical system illuminates tissue with light and detects reflected light properties, providing both real-time monitoring and qualitative information about lesion formation, tissue charring, and coagulation without the limitations of electrical impedance methods.
2Loss of information
If multiple fiber optics are accommodated in the catheter tip for multi-directional light emission and collection, then comprehensive lesion assessment is enabled, but the tip space becomes constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests multiple optical waveguides within the catheter tip structure, with each waveguide positioned to emit or collect light in specific directions. The waveguides are arranged concentrically and at different angles within the limited tip space, allowing comprehensive multi-directional optical assessment while maintaining a compact catheter design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement of optical waveguides within the catheter tip, positioning them at various angles and depths to achieve multi-directional light emission and collection. This spatial dimensionality allows comprehensive tissue assessment without increasing the overall catheter tip diameter.
3Measurement precision
If fiber optics are positioned close to tissue for accurate lesion detection, then measurement precision improves, but the risk of fiber breakage from stress and strain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides protective routing and structural support for the fiber optic waveguides within the catheter shaft, creating a cushioning effect that absorbs stress and strain before it reaches the fragile optical fibers. This protective structure allows the fibers to be positioned close to tissue for accurate measurement while preventing breakage from mechanical stresses during catheter manipulation.
4Loss of information
If post-ablation evaluation is performed using mapping catheters, then lesion effectiveness can be assessed, but additional medical procedures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ablation function and the evaluation function into a single integrated catheter system. The ablation catheter includes built-in optical waveguides that both deliver light for illumination and collect reflected light for real-time lesion assessment, eliminating the need for separate mapping catheter procedures and providing immediate feedback on lesion effectiveness.
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 real-time monitoring of lesion formation, depth, and tissue health, reducing the need for post-procedure evaluations and minimizing complications by providing accurate, qualitative data on lesion effectiveness and preventing steam pops through the use of light-based assessment that is not affected by ablation radiation or blood attenuation.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of optical waveguides adapted to transmit optical energy to and from the tip electrode
Implementation Method 2
the alignment member fixedly secures the distal portion of each waveguide against movement relative to the alignment member and the shell to minimize stress and strain on waveguides that may cause breakage
Implementation Method 3
Lesion assessments are accomplished by measuring the light intensity at one or more wavelengths that is recaptured at the catheter tip resulting from the light radiated from the catheter tip onto ablated tissue
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter is adapted to ablate tissue and provide optically-based lesion qualitative and quantitative monitoring, comprising a catheter body and a tip electrode distal the catheter body adapted for ablating tissue, the tip electrode having a shell and an alignment member defining a hollow distal portion therebetween. In accordance with the invention, the catheter further includes a plurality of optical waveguides adapted to transmit optical energy to and from the tip electrode. A distal portion of each waveguide extends through the hollow distal portion and terminates in openings formed in the shell. Advantageously, the alignment member fixedly secures the distal portion of each waveguide against movement relative to the alignment member and the shell.