Actual Esophageal Tissue Change Detection Using Tendril Node Probes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting esophageal tissue changes during cardiac ablation are inadequate, as they often fail to accurately determine the extent of tissue damage and can lead to either underestimating or overestimating the condition, potentially causing further esophageal damage or premature termination of the procedure.
Innovation Solution
A probe with extendible tendrils and nodes is deployed in the esophagus to introduce and receive signals, using bioimpedance, resistivity, conductance, shear-wave velocity, and temperature measurements to assess actual esophageal tissue changes, providing real-time indications of damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional temperature sensors are used to monitor esophageal tissue, then the monitoring process is simple, but the measurement precision is insufficient to detect actual tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The probe is divided into multiple tendrils, each containing multiple nodes spaced apart along its length. This segmentation allows the system to measure tissue properties at multiple discrete locations simultaneously, improving spatial resolution and detection accuracy of esophageal tissue changes during ablation.
Solution Approach 2:
Each node on the tendrils is configured to perform multiple functions: introducing signals into esophageal tissue, receiving signals affected by the tissue, and measuring multiple tissue properties including bioimpedance, resistivity, conductance, shear-wave velocity, and temperature. This multi-functionality at each node enables comprehensive tissue monitoring without requiring separate specialized sensors.
2Measurement precision
If a single temperature sensor is used, then the device is simple, but the measurement precision is limited due to thermal spread and sensor sensitivity constraints
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single temperature sensor, the system employs multiple temperature sensors distributed across multiple tendrils with multiple nodes. This segmentation allows measurement of temperature at multiple spatial locations, improving the ability to detect localized thermal changes and actual tissue damage while accounting for thermal spread.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors temperature and multiple other tissue properties at multiple locations and uses feedback to determine actual tissue damage. By comparing measurements from multiple nodes and monitoring changes over time, the system can distinguish between normal thermal variations and actual tissue damage, improving measurement precision.
3Reliability
If temperature increase is used as a marker for tissue damage, then the monitoring approach is simple, but the reliability is insufficient as it only indicates potential damage rather than actual damage
Solution Approach 1:
Each node measures multiple tissue properties including bioimpedance, resistivity, conductance, shear-wave velocity, and temperature simultaneously. This multi-parameter approach provides complementary information about tissue state, improving reliability in distinguishing actual tissue damage from normal thermal changes by analyzing changes in multiple properties rather than relying on temperature alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from multiple measurements to continuously assess tissue damage. By monitoring changes in multiple tissue properties over time and comparing them against baseline values, the system can reliably detect actual tissue damage and provide real-time indications to adjust or terminate the ablation procedure appropriately.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems to identify actual esophageal tissue changes (e.g., during cardiac ablation) are disclosed. An example system includes a probe and a data analysis unit. The probe is configured for positioning in a patient's esophagus and includes a sheath, and a plurality of tendrils extendible by a user from an end of the sheath within the esophagus. Each tendril has a plurality of nodes spaced apart along the tendril, wherein each node of the plurality of nodes is configured to be used to introduce signals into esophageal tissue and/or receive signals affected by esophageal tissue. The data analysis unit is configured to determine a value of a characteristic indicative of actual change to esophageal tissue between two nodes based on a signal received using at least one of the nodes, and to provide an indication of actual esophageal tissue change based on the determined value.