Cardiac Fibrillation Mapping Catheter with Multi-Electrode Array
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating cardiac fibrillation are less than desirable due to the complexity of identifying source locations and mechanisms underlying the condition, leading to inadequate ablation strategies and increased risk of complications, with existing catheters being too large, having inappropriate electrode configurations, and being unsuitable for unstable arrhythmia conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for assessing cardiac fibrillogenicity, involving data collection and processing units to map electrical circuit cores and optimize ablation lesion placement based on quantitative feedback, using techniques like cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, electrocardiography, and three-dimensional ultrasound to tailor treatment strategies for each patient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If generalized ablation strategies are applied based on basic research principles, then treatment can be provided to patients, but the success rate is limited to about 70% due to inability to accurately determine individual patient source locations and mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mapping and identification of fibrillation source locations and mechanisms before ablation treatment. Electrophysiological catheters record electrical signals to create maps of the cardiac tissue, identifying rotors and other arrhythmia sources in advance, allowing customization of ablation strategy based on patient-specific characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses real-time feedback from electrophysiological recordings during the procedure. The mapping system continuously monitors electrical activity, provides feedback on identified source locations and mechanisms, and allows adjustment of ablation targets based on this feedback, improving accuracy beyond predetermined generalized approaches
2Speed
If ablation lesions are applied to terminate fibrillation episodes, then immediate termination may be achieved, but additional harm may be caused including steam pops, cardiac perforation, thrombus formation, and new abnormal heart rhythms
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies ablation lesions locally at specifically identified source locations rather than widespread ablation. By precisely targeting rotor cores and arrhythmia sources identified through mapping, the treatment achieves termination with minimal lesions, reducing exposure to harmful effects while maintaining effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification and characterization of arrhythmia sources before applying ablation. By pre-mapping the electrical activity and identifying exact locations of rotors and other mechanisms, the system enables precise, targeted ablation that terminates fibrillation with minimal tissue damage and reduced risk of complications
3Device complexity
If existing catheters with large electrodes and great inter-electrode spacing are used, then the catheter structure is simple, but the catheter must be moved to many locations and the process is time-consuming and technically challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter employs multiple smaller electrodes distributed along its length rather than a single large electrode. This segmentation allows simultaneous recording from multiple locations, enabling comprehensive mapping without moving the catheter extensively, thus reducing procedure time while maintaining manageable complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter design transitions from requiring movement in three-dimensional space to achieving coverage through spatial distribution of electrodes along the catheter body. By utilizing the catheter's length to distribute electrodes, the system achieves comprehensive sampling without requiring complex repositioning maneuvers
4Measurement precision
If contact-based catheters are used for mapping, then data can be acquired from the endocardium, but unstable arrhythmia conditions and transient nonperiodic arrhythmias complicate the mapping process significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mapping during stable arrhythmia episodes to establish baseline characteristics of the cardiac tissue and electrical activity. This pre-mapping information is stored and used to guide subsequent ablation during unstable or transient episodes, allowing treatment based on previously acquired accurate measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy or model of the cardiac electrical activity patterns during stable periods. By recording and storing the spatial and temporal characteristics of electrical signals during stable arrhythmias, the system preserves accurate mapping data that can be referenced during unstable conditions when direct measurement is difficult
Data Source
Figure 1A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4A~4F
AI summary
Systems, catheters, and related methods for mapping, minimizing, and treating cardiac fibrillation in a patient are configured to provide a map of one or more measurements indicative of a number of electrical circuit cores and distribution of the electrical circuit cores for a duration across a cardiac tissue substrate in the patient's heart in response to electrical activity in the cardiac tissue substrate, the map being registered onto a representation of the patient's heart, to identify at least one region of the cardiac tissue substrate having a number of electrical circuit cores that is higher than a predetermined density threshold, to generate a first sample set of lesions.