Flexible Catheter Tip Rectangular Cross-Section Cardiac Mapping

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cardiac mapping and ablation catheters with rigid electrodes face challenges in maintaining consistent contact with cardiac tissue, especially during erratic heartbeats and on contoured surfaces, leading to inadequate mapping and ablation quality.

Innovation Solution

A flexible catheter tip with an integrated electrode structure featuring a flexible framework comprising inboard and outboard understructures with rectangular cross-sections, allowing for conformability and sustained contact with cardiac tissue, and a distal coupler for connection, enabling precise mapping and ablation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If rigid metallic electrodes are used in conventional mapping catheters, then structural strength and electrode stability are improved, but contact quality with cardiac tissue deteriorates, especially on contoured surfaces and during erratic heartbeats

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode structural strengthVSAvoidcontact quality with cardiac tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by using a flexible framework structure with rectangular cross-section elements that can conform to the irregular surfaces of cardiac tissue. The framework includes mounting arms with lock portions that engage with tissue, providing both flexibility for contour adaptation and mechanical strength for stable contact during heartbeats.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the electrode structure by transitioning from rigid metallic electrodes to a flexible framework with rectangular cross-section elements. This parameter change allows the electrode to adapt its shape while maintaining structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between strength and contact quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If rigid electrodes are used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to cardiac motion and tissue contours deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to cardiac motion and contours

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible framework structure embodies this principle by using elongate elements with rectangular cross-sections that can bend and conform to cardiac tissue contours while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized component assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The framework is segmented into multiple mounting arms and rectangular cross-section elements that can independently flex and adapt to tissue motion, while each segment maintains structural integrity for reliable electrode contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If flexible catheter tip with rectangular cross-section framework is used, then contact stability and mapping precision are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemapping accuracyVSAvoidcatheter structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible framework with rectangular cross-section elements provides a standardized yet adaptable structure that improves mapping precision through stable tissue contact while controlling complexity through modular design principles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The rectangular cross-section framework elements are designed with specific geometric curvatures that allow them to conform to cardiac tissue surfaces, improving contact stability and mapping accuracy without requiring overly complex structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS20250009272A1High Density Electrode Mapping Catheter

Publication Date: 2025.01.09 ST JUDE MEDICAL CARDILOGY DIV INC

AI summary

Various embodiments of the present disclosure can include a flexible catheter tip. The flexible catheter tip can comprise an inboard understructure that defines a tip longitudinal axis, wherein the inboard understructure is formed from a first continuous element that includes a first rectangular cross-section. In some embodiments, an outboard understructure can extend along the tip longitudinal axis, wherein the outboard understructure is formed from a second continuous element that includes a second rectangular cross-section.