Electroporation Catheter with Nerve Block for Atrial Fibrillation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheter ablation techniques for atrial fibrillation have limited success rates and cause significant collateral damage to healthy tissue, leading to impaired cardiac function and other arrhythmias, due to the use of radiofrequency and cryo energy sources that pose hazards to arteries and veins.
Innovation Solution
An electrophysiology apparatus using electroporation with concomitant nerve block, employing a high voltage pulsed DC supply and an electrode assembly with multiple electrodes to selectively deliver electroporation and nerve blocking stimuli, minimizing pain and avoiding thermal damage by targeting ganglionated plexi on the epicardial surface of the heart.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radiofrequency or cryo energy sources are used for catheter ablation, then abnormal heart tissue can be destroyed to treat atrial fibrillation, but significant collateral damage occurs to healthy tissue including arteries and veins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the ablation function into separate components: electroporation electrodes for selective neural ablation and nerve block electrodes for pain management. This segmentation allows targeted destruction of ganglionated plexi while preserving surrounding healthy tissue including coronary arteries and veins, resolving the contradiction between treatment effectiveness and tissue preservation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the energy delivery parameters from continuous thermal energy (radiofrequency) or extreme cold (cryo) to pulsed electrical fields for electroporation. This parameter change enables selective ablation of neural tissue at lower energy levels that do not cause thermal damage to surrounding structures, thereby reducing collateral harm while maintaining treatment reliability
2Reliability
If high current density is applied for electroporation ablation, then abnormal tissue can be selectively destroyed, but painful sensations occur requiring general anesthesia
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary nerve block stimulation through dedicated electrodes before and during the electroporation ablation procedure. This preliminary action desensitizes the targeted neural tissue, allowing high current density electroporation to be performed without causing painful sensations, thus maintaining ablation selectivity while eliminating the need for general anesthesia
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces nerve block electrodes as intermediary components that mediate between the electroporation electrodes and the patient's pain perception. These intermediary electrodes deliver counter-stimulation to block pain signals, enabling effective tissue ablation without harmful pain responses
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 approach reduces pain and the need for general anesthesia, enabling conscious sedation, lower treatment costs, and potentially higher success rates by selectively ablating abnormal tissue without damaging surrounding structures, thus improving cardiac function and reducing arrhythmia risks.
Implementation Method 1
at least one electroporation electrode configured to carry a current density sufficient to effect electroporation of tissue in a locus around the at least one electroporation electrode
Implementation Method 2
the at least one other electrode is configured to deliver nerve blocking stimulation by way of electrical pulses in the range 4000 Hz to 10,000 Hz in the vicinity of the tissue in the locus around the at least one electroporation electrode
Data Source
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AI summary
Treating patients with therapeutically effective electroporation requires the use of voltage potentials which when applied to the patient can be painful due to the noxious overstimulation of the afferent pain-receptive nerve fibres. An electrode assembly which includes electrodes for applying effective electroporation voltages, also comprises at least one electrode configured to apply a non- noxious, non-painful electrical stimulation which may be referred to as a "nerve block adjacent to the electroporation site.