Expandable Catheter Distal Member Shape Tracking With ACL Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheters with expandable distal members face challenges in accurately visualizing and controlling their shape, orientation, and position during treatments, relying heavily on physician interpretation which can lead to inadequate expansion or collapse, potentially causing treatment inefficiencies or patient injury.
Innovation Solution
The catheter incorporates a distal sensor, proximal sensor, navigational sensor, and telescoping member, along with a trifilar wire, to determine the longitudinal and radial dimensions of the expandable member using advanced current localization and magnetic tracking systems, providing real-time feedback to ensure proper expansion and collapse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If physician interpretation is used to determine expandable member shape and position, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and treatment reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual interpretation system with an electromagnetic field-based sensing system. Sensors detect the positions of markers on the expandable member and calculate shape and orientation through computer processing, substituting physician visual estimation with automated electromagnetic tracking and computational geometry analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces markers as intermediary objects attached to the expandable member. These markers serve as mediators between the physical expandable member and the sensing system, allowing indirect detection of member shape and position through electromagnetic field interactions with the markers rather than direct measurement.
2Device complexity
If visual estimation methods are used for expandable member positioning, then device complexity is minimized, but treatment reliability and patient safety deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback system where sensors continuously monitor the expandable member's position and shape, and this information is fed back to the control system. The system can provide real-time alerts when the member is in unsafe positions or not properly expanded, allowing corrective actions before treatment errors occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual visual estimation with automated electromagnetic tracking and computer-based calculation of member geometry. This substitution provides objective, quantifiable measurements of position and shape, eliminating the subjectivity and variability inherent in visual estimation methods.
3Measurement precision
If real-time sensor feedback is implemented for expandable member monitoring, then measurement precision and treatment reliability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensing system into discrete segments: markers attached to specific locations on the expandable member, sensors positioned at fixed locations, and computational modules for calculating shape and orientation. This segmentation allows each component to be independently optimized and simplifies the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the sensing system to perform multiple functions: tracking marker positions, calculating expandable member shape, determining orientation, and providing feedback for both positioning and expansion monitoring. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized systems for each measurement task.
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 system enhances the accuracy of catheter positioning, reducing the risk of patient injury and device damage by ensuring the expandable member is appropriately expanded or collapsed, thereby improving treatment efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
The distal sensor can provide electrical current to an advanced current localization tracker system and can be positioned to indicate the longitudinal dimension of the expandable member
Implementation Method 2
The navigational sensor can be affixed approximate the proximal sensor at a static position on the catheter in relation to the proximal sensor
Implementation Method 3
The body sensor can be affixed to the expandable member and positioned to indicate a radial dimension of the expandable member
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter and associated positioning system can include sensors and software to ascertain the extent of expansion of an expandable distal member of the catheter. Sensors on the distal member can be configured so that the system is able to determine a longitudinal dimension and a radial dimension of the distal-end assembly and determine extent of expansion of the distal member based on those metrics. At least the longitudinal dimension can be derived from advanced current localization (ACL) techniques utilizing an electrode at a distal end of the expandable distal member.