Catheter Ablation Tip With Expandable Cooling and Contact Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ablation systems face challenges in forming wide and deep lesions safely while effectively cooling the ablation electrode and providing precise control over the contact between the electrode and tissue during RF catheter ablation procedures.
Innovation Solution
The ablation system includes an expandable ablation electrode with irrigation holes directed towards its inner portion, allowing fluid flow for cooling, and a deformable electrode with sensors to detect deformation, ensuring efficient energy delivery and controlled tissue contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the ablation electrode is made larger to form wide and deep lesions, then the lesion width and depth are improved, but the cooling efficiency deteriorates due to increased surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation electrode is divided into multiple segments or zones, each with its own irrigation holes. This segmentation allows distributed cooling across the electrode surface, improving heat dissipation efficiency while maintaining a large overall electrode size for creating wide and deep lesions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic cooling through irrigation holes that deliver fluid directly to the electrode surface. This hydraulic system provides active cooling to counteract the increased heat generation from the large electrode surface area, enabling safe delivery of high power for extended durations.
2Area of stationary object
If the ablation electrode is made expandable to increase contact area, then the lesion formation capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable electrode is nested within the catheter shaft in a compressed state for delivery, then expanded at the treatment site. This nesting principle allows the large electrode to be delivered through a relatively small catheter, reducing delivery complexity while maintaining the capability for large contact area during ablation.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode transitions from a static compressed state during delivery to a dynamic expanded state during treatment. This dynamic transformation allows the system to adapt its configuration, providing ease of delivery followed by effective treatment with large contact area, thereby managing overall device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If sensors are added to detect electrode deformation and contact force, then the control precision over electrode-tissue contact is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors embedded in the electrode detect deformation and contact force, providing real-time feedback about electrode-tissue interaction. This feedback enables precise control of the ablation process, ensuring optimal contact conditions while preventing excessive force, thereby improving measurement precision with a relatively simple sensor implementation.
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 system enables safe and effective formation of wide and deep lesions with enhanced cooling and precise control over electrode-tissue contact, facilitating reliable and repeatable lesion creation.
Implementation Method 1
allowing for the flow of irrigation fluid and blood through an expandable ablation electrode, resulting in efficient and effective cooling of the ablation electrode
Implementation Method 2
efficient and effective cooling of the ablation electrode as the ablation electrode delivers energy
Data Source
AI summary
Ablation systems of the present disclosure facilitate the safe formation of wide and deep lesions. For example, ablation systems of the present disclosure can allow for the flow of irrigation fluid and blood through an expandable ablation electrode, resulting in efficient and effective cooling of the ablation electrode as the ablation electrode delivers energy at a treatment site of the patient. Additionally, or alternatively, ablation systems of the present disclosure can include a deformable ablation electrode and a plurality of sensors that, in cooperation, sense the deformation of the ablation electrode, to provide a robust indication of the extent and direction of contact between the ablation electrode and tissue at a treatment site.