Flexible Ablation Catheter Arrays for Stable Myocardial Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ablation catheters face challenges in maintaining adequate contact between electrodes and myocardial tissue, especially on irregular surfaces, leading to inadequate lesion formation and prolonged procedure times due to the need for separate electrophysiology mapping and ablation steps.

Innovation Solution

Development of flexible catheters with high-density electrode arrays, including planar and basket-type end effectors, capable of both electrophysiology mapping and ablation, which conform to tissue contours and utilize monopolar and bipolar configurations for precise tissue ablation, with integrated temperature sensors for controlled energy delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional rigid ring electrodes are used for ablation therapy, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but adequate contact with irregular myocardial tissue surfaces cannot be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact stabilityVSAvoidcatheter structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies flexible struts with integrated electrodes that can conform to irregular myocardial tissue surfaces. The struts are made of flexible materials allowing them to adapt to contoured, irregular, or trabeculated surfaces while maintaining electrode-tissue contact, resolving the contradiction between contact stability and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter design incorporates expandable basket structure with multiple flexible struts that can dynamically adjust to match the geometry of the myocardial surface. This dynamic adaptation allows the electrodes to maintain reliable contact with irregular tissue surfaces without requiring a completely complex rigid structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If separate electrophysiology mapping and ablation catheters are used, then each catheter can be optimized for its specific function, but procedure time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedure efficiencyVSAvoidcatheter functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates both electrophysiology mapping and ablation therapy capabilities into a single catheter device. The same flexible struts and electrodes can perform both mapping (detecting electrophysiological characteristics) and ablation (delivering RF energy), eliminating the need for separate catheters and reducing procedure time while maintaining optimized functionality for both purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter combines mapping electrodes and ablation electrodes into a unified structure with flexible struts. This merging of functions allows the device to perform both electrophysiology mapping and ablation therapy without requiring separate procedures or catheter exchanges, thereby improving procedural efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If focal point ablation is used to limit tissue damage, then precision is improved, but adequate contact on irregular surfaces remains difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelesion precisionVSAvoidcontact maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible struts with integrated electrodes can conform precisely to irregular myocardial surfaces, ensuring stable contact at the focal ablation point. This flexibility allows the electrode to maintain intimate contact with contoured, irregular, or trabeculated surfaces, enabling precise focal ablation while overcoming the contact maintenance problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

Facilitates precise and efficient ablation therapy by minimizing tissue damage and reducing procedure duration through improved contact and customized ablation depth, leveraging high-density electrode arrays for targeted treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.

Implementation Method 1

The plurality of electrodes detect electrophysiological characteristics of tissue in contact with the planar array

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical signal detection: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

deliver an ablation therapy (e.g., RF ablation energy) to treat symptoms related to, for example, a cardiac arrhythmia

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadio-frequency heating: Dielectric Heating

Implementation Method 3

The plurality of electrodes detect electrophysiological characteristics of tissue in contact with the planar array and selectively ablate the tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 4

Each of the temperature sensors are mechanically coupled to the splines and placed in thermal communication with at least one of the electrodes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS20250339201A1Radio-Frequency Ablation and Direct Current Electroporation Catheters

Publication Date: 2025.11.06 ST JUDE MEDICAL CARDILOGY DIV INC

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to flexible catheters for both electrophysiology mapping and ablation using a high-density array of electrodes. These catheters may be used to detect electrophysiological characteristics of tissue in contact with the electrodes, and conduct monopolar and bipolar ablations of the tissue.