Catheter-Tissue Contact Visualization via Map Distortion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophysiological diagnostic procedures, maintaining optimal contact force between a medical probe and intra-body tissue is crucial to avoid inaccurate readings and tissue damage, yet existing methods lack effective visualization of contact force and tissue distortion.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a probe with position and force sensors, and a processor that constructs a simulated surface of the body cavity, creating distortion at points of contact exceeding predefined force thresholds, with adjustable distortion magnitude based on tissue type, to provide a graphical representation of contact force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If contact force between probe and tissue is increased to improve measurement accuracy, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but tissue damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors contact force between the probe and tissue using a force sensor, and provides real-time visual feedback through distortion magnitude on the simulated surface. This allows operators to adjust contact force dynamically to maintain optimal measurement accuracy while preventing tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses visual representation with color-coded distortion magnitudes to indicate different levels of contact force. Different colors represent different force thresholds, enabling operators to quickly assess and adjust contact pressure to avoid tissue damage while maintaining measurement quality.
2Reliability
If contact force is monitored to prevent tissue damage, then safety is improved, but loss of information about actual tissue deformation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a simulated surface that copies and visualizes the actual tissue geometry and deformation. The distortion applied to the simulated surface accurately represents real tissue deformation, preserving all deformation information while enabling safety monitoring through visual feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms the invisible contact force and tissue deformation into a visual dimension by applying distortion to the simulated surface. This dimensional transformation allows operators to perceive and analyze tissue deformation characteristics that would otherwise be imperceptible.
3Ease of operation
If distortion magnitude is increased to improve visualization of contact force, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The distortion magnitude is dynamically adjusted based on the measured contact force and tissue type. The system automatically scales the distortion to provide optimal visualization clarity while maintaining accurate representation of the actual contact force, preventing over-exaggeration that would compromise measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different distortion magnitudes to different regions of the simulated surface based on local tissue characteristics and contact force measurements. Each region's distortion is optimized for its specific conditions, providing clear visualization where needed while preserving measurement accuracy in other areas.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, including constructing a simulated surface of a body cavity, and pressing a distal end of a probe against a wall of the body cavity. While pressing the distal end against the wall, position measurements are accepted from the probe indicating a position of the probe within the body cavity, and force measurements are accepted from the probe indicating a force between the distal end and the wall. A distortion in the simulated surface is created at the position indicated by the position measurements, so as to form a distorted surface, upon detecting that the force measurements exceed a predefined amount. The distorted surface is then displayed.