Expandable Cardiac Ablation Catheter with Integrated Imaging and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cardiac ablation technologies face challenges with bulky, stiff electrodes that limit conformability and efficiency in treating complex 3D anatomy, requiring extensive repositioning and overlapping patterns to achieve uninterrupted lesions, and lack effective visualization and cooling mechanisms, leading to potential tissue damage and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
An ablation catheter with an expandable membrane and multiple electrodes, integrated imaging and light reflection systems for enhanced visualization, and irrigation apertures for cooling, allowing for precise, efficient energy delivery and real-time visualization of the procedure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If larger electrode arrays are used for one shot ablation, then lesion area is increased, but device stiffness increases limiting conformability against tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode array is divided into multiple independently controllable segments or groups that can be selectively activated. This allows the large electrode structure to be functionally segmented, enabling conformable contact with tissue while maintaining the ability to create large lesion areas through coordinated activation of multiple segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic elements such as flexible support structures, adjustable electrode positions, or shape-memory materials that allow the rigid electrode array to adapt its configuration. This enables the electrode array to conform to complex 3D tissue anatomy while maintaining structural integrity for effective energy delivery.
2Ease of operation
If point to point manipulation with single electrode tip is used, then conformability is improved, but treatment time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple electrode tips are combined into a single catheter assembly, allowing simultaneous ablation at multiple locations. This merges the functionality of multiple single-electrode procedures into one intervention, dramatically reducing treatment time while maintaining conformability through the flexible catheter design.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is designed with multi-functional capabilities, including both conformable navigation through flexible construction and the ability to deliver energy across large surface areas through integrated electrode arrays. This universal design allows the single device to perform both precise point-to-point manipulation and broad area ablation.
3Measurement precision
If multiple catheters are placed in left atrium for complete mapping, then mapping completeness is improved, but procedure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter integrates multiple functions including electrical mapping, imaging, and ablation capabilities into a single device. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple separate catheters, simplifying the procedure while maintaining complete electrical mapping coverage through the integrated sensor array.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple catheter functions (mapping electrodes, imaging sensors, ablation elements) are merged into a single integrated catheter assembly. This consolidation reduces the number of devices required, simplifies catheter placement, and enables simultaneous performance of mapping and treatment functions.
4Reliability
If RF energy is delivered to heat target tissue, then cell death is achieved, but collateral thermal damage may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode array enables localized energy delivery to specific target regions with precise spatial control. By concentrating RF energy at the electrode-tissue interface and using flexible conformable contact, the system achieves effective ablation of target cells while minimizing thermal spread to adjacent healthy tissues through controlled energy distribution across multiple localized electrode sites.
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 enables precise, efficient ablation with reduced tissue damage and improved visualization, allowing for larger lesion areas with shallow depths and minimizing collateral damage, while ensuring effective energy delivery and tissue contact.
Implementation Method 1
a light source disposed within the expandable member and positioned to direct light towards the diffuse reflector such that diffuse reflection of the light is directed towards a field of view of the imaging member
Implementation Method 2
RF and acoustic energy fields. The goal for most ablation procedures is to achieve cell death quickly, precisely and with minimal to no collateral damage
Implementation Method 3
thermal ablation therapy can be used to heat a target tissue with a surgical instrument such as a needle or probe electrode coupled to an energy source that heats the probe tip, the target tissue, or both
Implementation Method 4
Newer larger electrode arrays for 'one shot' ablation have been used to improve catheter ablation treatments. These ablation systems have been adopted as a way to provide full contact to tissues having a complex 3-D anatomy
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
Cardiac ablation catheters and methods of use. In some embodiments the catheter includes at least one camera inside an expandable membrane for visualizing an ablation procedure.