Dual Mode PFA Catheter with Multi-Electrode Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ablation catheters require physical switching between different modes for performing pulsed field ablation (PFA), which is inconvenient and inefficient, as practitioners need to switch between linear and focal modes by removing and reinserting separate catheters.
Innovation Solution
A single catheter is designed with multiple independently controllable electrodes that can switch between linear and focal modes by adjusting the electrode configurations and energy output, allowing for seamless transition between the two modes without physical catheter changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate catheters are used for linear and focal PFA modes, then each catheter can be optimized for its specific mode, but the device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to requiring physical switching between catheters
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates multiple independently controllable electrodes (tip electrode, tip ring electrode, pair of ring electrodes, and one or more additional electrodes) that can be configured to perform both linear PFA mode and focal PFA mode. The controller selectively activates different electrode combinations to generate either linear or focal field geometries, eliminating the need for separate catheters and physical switching during procedures.
2Ease of operation
If a single catheter with multiple electrodes is used for both linear and focal PFA modes, then ease of operation improves by eliminating catheter switching, but device complexity increases due to multiple independently controllable electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple independently controllable electrode segments: a tip electrode, a tip ring electrode, a pair of ring electrodes, and one or more additional electrodes. Each electrode or electrode pair can be independently activated or deactivated by the controller, allowing flexible configuration for different PFA modes without requiring a single complex electrode structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode configuration is made dynamic through electronic control rather than fixed physical structure. The controller selectively activates different electrode combinations based on the desired PFA mode (linear or focal), allowing the catheter to adapt its electrical field geometry dynamically during the procedure without physical reconfiguration.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate catheters are used for linear and focal PFA modes, then manufacturing complexity is reduced for each individual catheter, but loss of time increases due to catheter removal and reinsertion
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functionality of separate linear-mode and focal-mode catheters into a single integrated catheter. By combining multiple electrode types (tip electrode, tip ring electrode, pair of ring electrodes, and additional electrodes) into one device, the system eliminates the need for catheter removal and reinsertion when switching between PFA modes, saving procedural time while remaining manufacturable.
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 efficient and convenient switching between linear and focal PFA modes without catheter removal, simplifying supply management and reducing the need for multiple catheter types, while maintaining effective lesion formation capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
Pulsed field ablation involves the application of short pulsed electric fields (PEF), which may reversibly or irreversibly destabilize cell membranes through electropermeabilization
Data Source
AI summary
An example catheter for performing pulsed field ablation (PFA) includes: an elongated structure defining a longitudinal axis; a plurality of electrodes carried on a distal portion of the elongated structure, the plurality of electrodes comprising: a tip electrode positioned at a distal tip of the elongated structure; a tip ring electrode adjacent to the tip electrode; a pair of ring electrodes; and one or more additional electrodes, wherein the pair of ring electrodes is disposed longitudinally along the elongated structure between the tip ring electrode and the one or more additional electrodes.