Cryoballoon Lesion Depth Feedback via Thermocouple Slope
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ablation procedures for cardiac arrhythmias face challenges in monitoring lesion formation and preventing unintentional damage to non-target tissues, often requiring complex and expensive equipment, and providing limited real-time feedback.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that uses temperature measurements from thermocouples to provide feedback on lesion depth during cryoablation, adjusting the coolant flow within a cryoballoon to prevent thermal damage to non-myocardial tissues by modifying or redirecting coolant flow based on detected changes in temperature slope.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If temperature monitoring is performed during cryoablation to prevent damage to non-target tissue, then safety is improved, but additional complex and expensive equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The cryoballoon catheter performs its own temperature monitoring using thermocouples integrated directly into the balloon structure. The system uses its own operational parameters (coolant flow rate, temperature) to generate feedback signals that indicate lesion depth and proximity to non-target tissue, eliminating the need for separate monitoring equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors temperature changes during cryoablation and uses the rate of temperature change (dT/dt) as a feedback signal. When the cooling rate exceeds a predetermined threshold, indicating potential damage to non-target tissue, the system automatically adjusts or terminates coolant flow to prevent collateral damage.
2Manufacturing precision
If real-time temperature monitoring is implemented to provide immediate feedback on lesion depth, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensing function is merged with the cooling function by integrating thermocouples directly into the cryoballoon structure. The same catheter that delivers coolant also monitors temperature, combining two functions into a single integrated device rather than requiring separate monitoring systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The cryoballoon system monitors its own operational parameters (temperature, cooling rate) and uses this self-generated data to control the ablation process. The system serves itself by providing real-time feedback on lesion depth without requiring external monitoring equipment.
3Measurement precision
If multiple monitoring methods (fluoroscopy, echocardiography, ultrasound) are used to detect thermal damage to non-target tissue, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and procedure time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The essential temperature monitoring function is extracted from the complex array of imaging modalities (fluoroscopy, echocardiography, ultrasound) and implemented directly through thermocouples integrated into the cryoballoon. This extracts the core temperature measurement capability from the surrounding complexity of multiple imaging systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs its own thermal monitoring through integrated thermocouples rather than relying on external imaging equipment. The cryoballoon generates its own temperature data and uses it to monitor for thermal damage to non-target tissue, eliminating the need for multiple separate monitoring 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
Enables real-time monitoring and adjustment of cryoablation procedures to prevent collateral damage to non-target tissues, improving the precision and safety of the ablation process without the need for additional equipment.
Implementation Method 1
taking a plurality of temperature measurements with one or more thermocouples
Implementation Method 2
adjusting a temperature of a treatment element in contact with the myocardial tissue
Implementation Method 3
cryoablation procedure
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for providing lesion depth feedback during an ablation procedure. In particular, the method and system provide feedback data or information relating to lesion depth in myocardial tissue during a cryoablation procedure. A plurality of tissue temperature measurements may be transmitted from a plurality of thermocouples disposed on a cryotreatment element, which measurements may be used to determine a slope of change in temperature sensed by each thermocouple over time. The circulation of coolant through the treatment element may be adjusted when the slope changes. A change in slope may indicate that the cryoablation temperatures have passed through target myocardial tissue into non-target, non-myocardial tissue, which may result in collateral damage to structures near the heart.