Flexible Membrane Ablation Catheter for Uniform Cardiac Lesions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cardiac ablation techniques often result in incomplete lesions, failing to effectively create a conduction block in cardiac tissue due to non-uniform energy delivery, which necessitates improved systems for reproducible and uniform ablative energy application.
Innovation Solution
The development of systems and methods involving magnetic elements for one-sided port introduction, flexible suction probes, and cinching mechanisms that facilitate precise delivery of ablative energy to create reproducible, uniform transmural lesions, including the use of RF energy and other ablation modalities, to achieve conduction block at the pulmonary vein and left atrium junction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional ablation techniques are used, then the procedure can be performed with existing equipment, but the lesions formed are incomplete and non-uniform, failing to create effective conduction block
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation catheter employs a flexible membrane that conforms to the curved surface of the pulmonary vein ostium, ensuring uniform contact and consistent energy delivery across the entire lesion site. This flexible membrane structure eliminates gaps and non-uniformities that would occur with rigid or less adaptable catheter designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter system incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable components that allow dynamic adaptation to varying anatomical geometries. The flexible membrane can be adjusted to match different ostium sizes and shapes, ensuring consistent lesion formation across diverse patient anatomies rather than relying on a fixed rigid structure.
2Productivity
If traditional ablation systems are used, then the system structure is simpler, but the procedure time is longer and reproducibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation system is divided into distinct functional modules including the flexible membrane catheter, stabilizer mechanism, and energy delivery system. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and assembled into a cohesive system that reduces overall procedure time while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter system integrates multiple functions into a single device: the flexible membrane provides both structural support and energy delivery, while incorporating stabilizer mechanisms and adjustable geometry. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple separate devices and steps, reducing procedure time despite increased individual device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If ablation is performed on a beating heart, then the procedure can be done without cardiac arrest, but achieving complete transmural lesions is more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane catheter adapts to the moving cardiac surface during beating, maintaining continuous contact despite heart motion. This flexibility allows the catheter to conform to the dynamic anatomy of the beating heart while delivering uniform energy to create complete transmural lesions, overcoming the challenge of performing ablation without cardiac arrest.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates mechanisms to monitor and adjust energy delivery in real-time based on tissue response, ensuring complete transmural lesion formation even during heart beating. This feedback control compensates for motion-induced variations in contact pressure and energy delivery, maintaining lesion completeness without requiring cardiac arrest.
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
These techniques enable rapid and effective formation of complete, uniform lesions, reducing procedure time and ensuring conduction block, even on a beating heart, with improved coupling and stabilizer mechanisms for efficient energy distribution.
Implementation Method 1
Exemplary embodiments involve the administration of precisely controlled ablative energy to create reproducible, uniform transmural lesions during cardiac surgery
Implementation Method 2
securing the stabilizer member with the patient tissue via a vacuum
Data Source
AI summary
Cardiac ablation systems and methods of their use and manufacture involve an ablation mechanism, a stabilizer mechanism, and a cinching mechanism that urges the ablation mechanism toward a patient tissue. Embodiments encompass methods for administering epicardial and endocardial lesions, including box lesions and connecting lesions, to patient tissue.