Expandable Electrode Assembly for Single-Catheter Pulmonary Vein Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pulmonary vein isolation procedures for treating cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, require the use of multiple catheters, leading to extended procedure times and increased complexity for both physicians and patients.
Innovation Solution
The development of a medical probe with an expandable distal end assembly and a deflectable distal tip, equipped with multiple electrodes, allows for the delivery of ablative energy to both large and small areas of cardiac tissue using a single catheter, thereby reducing the need for multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple catheters are used for pulmonary vein isolation procedure, then complete ablation of different tissue areas is achieved, but procedure time is extended and operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional elements into a single catheter device. The catheter integrates both the expandable basket structure with multiple electrodes for circumferential ablation and a separate deflectable distal tip with focal electrode for targeted ablation. This merging of previously separate catheter functions into one device eliminates the need for multiple catheter insertions and reduces procedure time while maintaining the ability to treat both large circumferential areas and small focal tissue regions
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple catheters are used for pulmonary vein isolation procedure, then complete ablation of different tissue areas is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is designed with universal multi-functionality to perform multiple ablation tasks. The expandable basket with its array of electrodes can deliver radiofrequency energy for circumferential pulmonary vein isolation, while the deflectable distal tip with its focal electrode can target specific areas requiring focused ablation. This single device replaces multiple specialized catheters, reducing device complexity in terms of number of devices while maintaining comprehensive treatment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functionality of separate circumferential ablation catheters and focal ablation catheters into one integrated device. The basket structure and distal tip are combined in a single catheter shaft, allowing both circumferential and focal ablation capabilities to coexist in one device, thereby reducing the number of devices needed from multiple to one
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple catheters are inserted and removed, then different ablation functions are achieved, but operational difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple ablation functions into a single catheter that can perform both circumferential ablation via the expandable basket and focal ablation via the deflectable distal tip. This eliminates the need for physicians to repeatedly insert and remove different catheters, reducing operational difficulty and simplifying the procedure workflow while maintaining comprehensive ablation capability
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 solution significantly reduces the total procedure time by enabling the completion of multiple elements of a pulmonary vein isolation procedure with a single device, improving efficiency and reducing the burden on both healthcare providers and patients.
Implementation Method 1
Medical probes may utilize radiofrequency (RF) electrical energy to heat tissue
Implementation Method 2
Some ablation approaches use irreversible electroporation (IRE) to ablate cardiac tissue using nonthermal ablation methods
Implementation Method 3
The expandable distal end assembly can extend radially outward from the longitudinal axis and define an outer diameter
Implementation Method 4
The distal tip can be fixed longitudinally in relation to the expandable distal end assembly and be deflectable with respect to the longitudinal axis
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed technology includes an end effector for a medical probe. The end effector can comprise an expandable distal end assembly extending along a longitudinal axis. The expandable distal end assembly can extend radially outward from the longitudinal axis and define an outer diameter. The end effector can further comprise a distal tip extending distally from the expandable distal end assembly along the longitudinal axis over a tip length greater than the outer diameter. The distal tip can be fixed longitudinally in relation to the expandable distal end assembly and be deflectable with respect to the longitudinal axis. The tip can comprise an electrode configured to deliver ablative energy to tissue or receive signals from tissue.