Cylindrical Mapping Catheter Structure for Electrode Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheters with basket-shaped electrode arrays face challenges in manufacturing efficiency and electrode alignment due to the small size and complexity of spines, leading to increased time and cost, and potential misalignment issues.
Innovation Solution
A medical probe with a substantially cylindrical structure comprising a proximal and distal circular base, spines extending along a longitudinal axis, and a membrane with electrodes, allowing for easier assembly and improved contact with cardiac tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If electrodes are adhered to small spines and assembled into a spherical basket, then the catheter can detect electrical function of atrium, but manufacturing time increases and electrode alignment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter structure is divided into multiple spines that can be separately manufactured and then assembled. Each spine contains electrodes that are pre-positioned, allowing for precise alignment during assembly. This segmentation enables parallel manufacturing of components, reducing overall manufacturing time while maintaining electrode alignment precision through the structured assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
Electrodes are pre-positioned and secured on the spines before the final basket assembly is formed. This preliminary action of attaching electrodes to spines in advance allows for quality control and alignment verification before integration into the complete catheter structure, thereby improving manufacturing precision without significantly extending total manufacturing time.
2Manufacturing precision
If a spherical basket assembly is used, then electrical function of atrium can be detected, but contact uniformity with pulmonary vein deteriorates due to oval cross-section
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter transitions from a traditional spherical basket design to an asymmetric cylindrical geometry with spines arranged to match the oval cross-section of pulmonary veins. This asymmetric design provides uniform contact along the elliptical contour of the vein, improving detection precision while maintaining structural integrity through the cylindrical framework.
3Device complexity
If multiple linear spines are assembled to form spherical basket, then electrode array can be created, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual spines are merged into a unified cylindrical basket structure where the spines are interconnected to form a cohesive framework. This merging reduces device complexity by creating a single integrated assembly rather than separate components, while the modular spine design allows for efficient manufacturing and assembly of the complete electrode array.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosed technology includes a medical probe comprising a substantially cylindrical structure including a proximal circular base, a distal circular base substantially parallel to the proximal circular base, and plurality of spines extending along a longitudinal axis between the proximal circular base and the distal circular base, and a membrane positioned over the plurality of spines defining an internal volume about the longitudinal axis. The plurality of spines comprise a bifurcated portion positioned along at least a portion of the spine between the distal circular base and the proximal circular base. The membrane comprises one or more electrodes coupled to an external surface of the membrane. The membrane is configured to permit fluid communication from outside the membrane to the internal volume.