Chemical Ablation Clamp with Mapping Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bipolar radio-frequency ablation clamps for treating atrial fibrillation are inadequate in ensuring complete and continuous ablation, often leaving electrical isolation gaps and being costly, complex, and difficult to verify, with existing chemical ablation apparatuses also causing tissue damage and ineffective ablation verification.
Innovation Solution
A chemical ablation apparatus with a clipping component, needle head component, and pipeline components that include a clamp body, clamp head, needle head assembly, and ablation reagent injection system, allowing for precise control of needle head extension and retraction, and an electrocardiographic mapping component for verifying ablation completeness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bipolar radio-frequency ablation clamps are used to treat atrial fibrillation, then ablation of atrial tissue can be achieved, but incomplete and discontinuous ablation lines are formed leaving electrical isolation gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation clamp is divided into multiple independent electrode modules arranged in series. Each electrode module can deliver radiofrequency energy independently, allowing multiple ablation lesions to be created simultaneously along the pulmonary vein antrum. This segmentation ensures continuous ablation coverage without gaps between adjacent electrodes, resolving the issue of discontinuous ablation lines.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple electrode modules are integrated into a single clamp structure that can be applied to the pulmonary vein antrum. The electrodes are arranged in a continuous array along the clamp jaws, merging their ablation functions to create a continuous ablation line. This combining approach ensures complete circumferential isolation of the pulmonary vein antrum.
2Reliability
If bipolar radio-frequency ablation clamps release radiofrequency energy by closely touching epicardium, then ablation of atrial tissue is achieved, but transmural damage to thicker ventricular walls cannot be formed
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp design incorporates multiple electrode modules with varying spacing and configurations to address different tissue thicknesses. In regions with thinner atrial tissue, electrodes are positioned to deliver standard energy levels, while in regions with thicker ventricular walls, adjacent electrodes can be activated simultaneously to deliver cumulative energy for deeper transmural ablation. This local adaptation ensures effective ablation across varying tissue anatomies.
3Ease of operation
If existing bipolar radio-frequency ablation clamps are used, then ablation operations can be performed, but verification of continuous and complete ablation lines cannot be done during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp incorporates mapping electrodes integrated with the ablation electrodes. During the ablation procedure, these mapping electrodes can detect electrical signals from the underlying tissue to verify the continuity and completeness of the ablation line in real-time. This feedback mechanism allows immediate confirmation of successful pulmonary vein antrum isolation, enabling intra-procedural verification without requiring separate mapping steps.
4Reliability
If imported bipolar radio-frequency ablation clamps are used, then ablation treatment can be provided, but the complex structure and high cost make treatment inaccessible to many hospitals
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp design integrates multiple functions into a single device: ablation electrodes for delivering radiofrequency energy, mapping electrodes for verifying ablation completeness, and integrated control circuitry for coordinating electrode activation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate ablation and mapping devices, reducing overall system complexity and cost while maintaining treatment 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
The apparatus achieves continuous and complete ablation with reduced tissue damage, enables effective verification of ablation lines, and is more cost-effective, allowing for broader accessibility in treating atrial fibrillation.
Implementation Method 1
injection needle heads...used to inject chemical ablation reagents into target cardiac muscle tissue...causes coagulative necrosis to the joint
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a chemical ablation apparatus for treating arrhythmia. The apparatus includes a clamp body, a clamp head consisting of a pair of clamp jaws, a needle head assembly, a needle head extension and retraction control assembly, pipeline components, and an electrocardiographic mapping component. The chemical ablation apparatus can control needle heads to extend out of or retract into the clamp head by means of the needle head extension and retraction control assembly. A chemical ablation reagent may be injected to a cardiac muscle tissue to conveniently achieve complete ablation of the cardiac muscle tissue by applying a chemical ablation method. The ablation effect can be verified by an electrocardiographic mapping system, to increase the success rate and lower the difficulty level of arrhythmia ablation operations, while also reducing the manufacturing cost of ablation apparatus and corollary equipment thereof, and decreasing expenses for atrial fibrillation surgical operations.