Flexible Electrode Mapping Catheter Tip for Stable Cardiac Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mapping and ablation catheters with rigid electrodes face challenges in maintaining adequate contact with cardiac tissue, especially on contoured surfaces, due to erratic heartbeats and tissue undulations, leading to poor lesion quality and inaccurate mapping.

Innovation Solution

A flexible catheter tip design featuring a continuous rectangular cross-section understructure with intermediate coverings made from heat-shrink material, which conforms to cardiac tissue and maintains consistent electrode contact.

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 with cardiac tissue on contoured surfaces deteriorates due to inability to conform to tissue undulations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode structural strengthVSAvoidconformability to cardiac tissue surface

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rigid metallic electrodes with flexible electrode arrays mounted on compliant substrates that can conform to the contoured surfaces of cardiac tissue. The flexible substrate allows the electrode array to adapt to tissue undulations while maintaining structural integrity through distributed support elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite structures combining flexible substrates with supportive understructures. This composite design provides both the conformability needed to match cardiac tissue surfaces and the structural strength required to maintain electrode positioning and deliver therapeutic energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If rigid catheter tips are used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but sustained contact with beating cardiac tissue deteriorates due to inability to adapt to cardiac motion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecatheter manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidsustained electrode-tissue contact

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from static rigid catheter tips to dynamic flexible tips that can move and deform with cardiac motion. The flexible catheter tip incorporates compliant materials and structures that actively adapt to the beating heart, maintaining reliable contact throughout the cardiac cycle despite the complexity of manufacturing such dynamic structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If flexible catheter designs are implemented, then adaptability to cardiac motion is improved, but structural support and electrode positioning stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconformability to cardiac tissueVSAvoidelectrode array positioning stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the catheter tip into segmented components including flexible outer layers and internal supportive understructures. This segmentation allows the outer flexible surface to conform to cardiac tissue while internal segments provide stabilizing forces to maintain electrode array positioning and prevent excessive deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs nested structures where flexible outer layers containing electrodes are positioned within internal supportive frameworks. This nesting arrangement allows the flexible outer layer to adapt to tissue surfaces while the inner framework provides structural stability and maintains the geometric configuration of the electrode array.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

The flexible design ensures sustained tissue-electrode contact, enhancing mapping accuracy and lesion quality by adapting to cardiac motion and surface contours.

Implementation Method 1

intermediate coverings made from heat-shrink material, which conforms to cardiac tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal contraction: Thermal Contraction

Data Source

PatentUS20250375590A1Layered High Density Electrode Mapping Catheter

Publication Date: 2025.12.11 ST JUDE MEDICAL CARDILOGY DIV INC

AI summary

Various embodiments of the present disclosure can include flexible catheter tip. The flexible catheter tip can include a flexible arm defining a longitudinal axis and including a first rectangular cross-section. An intermediate covering can be disposed about the flexible arm. The intermediate covering can include a first intermediate covering disposed about the flexible arm, a second intermediate covering disposed about the first intermediate covering, and a covering disposed over the intermediate covering such that the intermediate covering is disposed between the covering and the flexible arm. The first intermediate covering can include a heat shrink material. The intermediate covering and the covering can be non-conductive coverings and can extend about a circumference of the flexible arm.