Segmented Electrophysiology Catheter for Stable MAP Mapping and Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic cardiac electrophysiology catheters fail to accurately and reliably detect monophasic action potential (MAP) signals due to unstable contact with heart tissue, caused by motion artifacts from a beating heart, leading to distorted signal measurements and inefficiencies in mapping and ablation procedures.
Innovation Solution
A catheter design with a distal assembly featuring selectively conductive ablative regions and conductive mapping regions, composed of materials like tantalum and gold, with oxide layers for enhanced conductivity and insulation, allowing for improved tissue contact and simultaneous mapping and ablation capabilities, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single electrode is used for both mapping and ablation, then device complexity is reduced, but signal measurement accuracy deteriorates due to unstable contact with beating heart tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is divided into distinct functional regions: a mapping region with smaller surface area optimized for electrical signal detection, and an ablation region with larger surface area optimized for thermal energy delivery. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function effectively without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the electrode are given different physical and electrical properties tailored to their specific functions. The mapping region has characteristics optimized for electrical conductivity and signal detection, while the ablation region has characteristics optimized for thermal conduction and tissue ablation. This local differentiation enables the single electrode to simultaneously achieve both accurate mapping and effective ablation.
2Productivity
If a larger electrode surface area is used for ablation, then ablation effectiveness is improved, but mapping signal quality deteriorates due to reduced local tissue contact pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode surface is segmented into distinct mapping and ablation regions with different surface areas. The mapping region has a smaller surface area that concentrates force on a smaller area, maintaining high local tissue contact pressure for optimal electrical signal detection. The ablation region has a larger surface area that distributes thermal energy over a broader area, improving ablation effectiveness while preventing excessive localized heating.
3Measurement precision
If separate mapping and ablation devices are used, then signal measurement accuracy is improved, but procedure time increases due to the need for device exchange
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines mapping and ablation functions into a single integrated electrode device. The electrode contains both a mapping region for electrical signal detection and an ablation region for thermal energy delivery, allowing both functions to be performed without removing or exchanging the device. This merging eliminates the time loss associated with device exchange while maintaining the functional capabilities of separate specialized devices through regional differentiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The single electrode is designed to perform multiple functions: electrical signal mapping and thermal ablation. By incorporating both mapping and ablation regions in one device, the electrode achieves multi-functionality, allowing physicians to perform both diagnostic mapping and therapeutic ablation procedures with a single instrument, thereby reducing overall procedure time while maintaining measurement accuracy.
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
The catheter provides more accurate and efficient mapping and ablation by maintaining stable contact with cardiac tissue, reducing the need for separate devices and minimizing thermal denaturation risks, while enhancing signal fidelity and procedure effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a selectively conductive ablation region including an oxide layer on the treatment electrode first surface. The selectively conductive ablation region may be conductive of high-frequency current and substantially non-conductive of low-frequency current
Implementation Method 2
The MAP signal is generated by measurement between two electrodes, the first being in contact with the blood but generally not in contact with the myocardium, and the second being in contact with the myocardium, with high enough local pressure to depolarize the underlying myocytes
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method, device, and system for improved mapping and/or ablation of a tissue. The device may generally include an elongate body and a distal assembly affixed to the elongate body that includes a treatment electrode having a conductive mapping region and a selectively conductive ablation region that is conductive of high-frequency current and substantially non-conductive of low-frequency current. Alternatively, the device may generally include a treatment electrode having a conductive mapping or ablation region and a region that is coated with an electrically insulated but thermally conductive layer.