Deployable Electrode Basket for Balloon Catheter Isolation Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ablation devices for atrial fibrillation lack a means to quickly and easily confirm electrical isolation of pulmonary veins without the need for catheter exchanges, which can introduce air into the left atrium and increase procedure time and risk.
Innovation Solution
A deployable electrode structure on an endoscopically guided laser ablation catheter with an inflatable balloon and axially translatable nose tip, allowing electrodes to deploy under balloon inflation for confirmation and delivery of ablative energy without catheter exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If catheter exchange is performed to confirm electrical isolation, then confirmation can be achieved, but procedure time increases and air introduction risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ablation catheter with a deployable electrode basket structure that can be activated to confirm electrical isolation. This merging of functions (ablation and confirmation) into a single catheter eliminates the need for separate catheter exchange, thereby reducing procedure time while maintaining reliable confirmation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The ablation catheter is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as an ablation device and as a confirmation device. The electrode basket can be deployed to detect electrical isolation, allowing the same catheter to perform multiple functions that previously required separate devices, thus eliminating time loss from catheter exchanges.
2Reliability
If catheter exchange is performed to confirm electrical isolation, then confirmation can be achieved, but air introduction risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the confirmation function into the ablation catheter itself, the patent eliminates the need for separate catheter exchange operations. This reduces the number of times the catheter is removed and reinserted, thereby minimizing the risk of air introduction into the left atrium while still providing reliable electrical isolation confirmation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If electrodes are added to ablation catheter, then confirmation and energy delivery capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrode system into a separate deployable basket structure that can be independently activated. This segmentation allows the electrodes to be stored in a compact form during ablation and only deployed when confirmation is needed, reducing the perceived complexity while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode basket is designed as a dynamic component that can be deployed and retracted based on procedural needs. This dynamic capability allows the catheter to adapt between ablation mode and confirmation mode, providing versatility without permanently increasing structural complexity.
4Ease of operation
If deployable electrode structure is added, then confirmation without catheter exchange is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode confirmation system is segmented as a separate deployable basket that can be activated independently. This allows the complex confirmation functionality to be isolated from the ablation function, making the overall system more manageable and easier to operate while enabling confirmation without catheter exchange.
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 rapid confirmation of electrical isolation and delivery of various ablative energies directly to the tissue, reducing procedure time and risk by eliminating the need for catheter exchanges.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable balloon and axially translatable nose tip, allowing electrodes to deploy under balloon inflation
Implementation Method 2
endoscopically guided laser ablation catheter for use in ablation and electrophysiological mapping
Data Source
AI summary
A balloon catheter includes an inflatable balloon coupled to an outer catheter shaft and an axially translatable nose tip to which the inflatable balloon is coupled. An electrode basket surrounds the balloon and has a plurality of first splines and a plurality of second splines, wherein the plurality of first splines and the plurality of second splines are configured to deploy under inflation of the inflatable balloon and wherein at least some first splines of the plurality of first splines include at least one electrode. An actuator axially translates the nose tip in a longitudinal direction to facilitate the electrode basket moving to a collapsed state when the balloon is deflated and to an expanded state when the balloon is inflated. The actuator moves between an extended position and a retracted position and a lock mechanism locks the actuator in the extended position.