Curved Electrode Landing Region for Catheter Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical instruments for cardiac ablation, such as catheters, face challenges in accurately determining their position and orientation within the heart due to complex anatomical geometries, leading to increased manufacturing costs and reduced efficacy of ablation procedures, particularly with cryoablation and irreversible electroporation methods.
Innovation Solution
The development of an end effector for medical probes featuring elongated support members with electrode landing regions and integrated inductive coils, allowing for improved magnetic position sensing and ablation capabilities, including a method of manufacturing that simplifies the integration of these components to enhance positional accuracy and reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If navigation sensors including three coil arrangements are integrated into catheters for accurate position and orientation determination, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the navigation sensor coils with the electrode array structure by integrating inductive coils into the elongated support members that also carry electrodes. This merging of navigation and ablation functions into a single integrated structure reduces device complexity while maintaining measurement precision for position and orientation determination during cardiac ablation procedures
2Measurement precision
If navigation sensors are crafted by hand for precise integration, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing time and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the catheter into modular components including elongated support members with integrated electrodes and inductive coils. This segmentation allows each module to be manufactured separately using standardized processes, then assembled systematically, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency while maintaining the precision required for accurate navigation sensor integration
3Reliability
If complex multi-electrode catheters are used for IRE ablation, then ablation efficacy is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs elongated support members that serve multiple functions: they provide structural support, carry electrodes for IRE ablation delivery, and incorporate inductive coils for navigation sensing. This multi-functionality allows a single structural element to perform ablation, sensing, and positioning tasks, thereby maintaining ablation efficacy while reducing overall device complexity and manufacturing costs
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
This solution enables more precise positioning and orientation of catheters during cardiac ablation procedures, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of both thermal and nonthermal ablation methods, while reducing manufacturing complexities and costs.
Implementation Method 1
A magnetic field can be sensed by positioning a conductive coil in the magnetic field and observing electrical current and/or voltage induced in the coil by a change in the magnetic field that is aligned with an axis of the conductive coil.
Data Source
AI summary
An end effector of a medical probe, the end effector including a plurality of elongated support members extending along a longitudinal axis of the end effector and the plurality of elongated support members configured to expand from the longitudinal axis. Each of the plurality of elongated support members includes an electrode landing region. The electrode landing region of each of the plurality of elongated support members includes a first surface facing away from the longitudinal axis and at least one extension extending from the first surface and curving toward the longitudinal axis. The first surface of the electrode landing region includes an electrode coupled to the first surface.