Flexible Polymer Catheter End Effector for Cardiac Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cardiac mapping catheters face challenges in achieving high mapping resolution and sufficient electrode contact with irregular heart tissue surfaces due to their stiffness, which limits data collection efficiency and electrode contact during procedures for arrhythmia treatment.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a flexible circuit layer with a framework and a flexible polymer layer, allowing for a collapsible and flexible end effector that can conform to flat, curved, or nonplanar surfaces, with pairs of opposite-facing electrodes for noise cancellation and improved tissue contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If stiff internal structural members are used to maintain predetermined configuration, then structural integrity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates as electrodes cannot contact tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter structure is divided into multiple segments including a collapsible distal portion with electrodes, a flexible intermediate portion, and a more rigid proximal portion. This segmentation allows the distal end to collapse and conform to tissue surfaces for electrode contact while the proximal end maintains structural integrity for navigation and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic structure that can change its configuration. The distal portion can collapse during advancement and then expand or conform to match the contours of cardiac tissue, allowing electrodes to maintain contact with irregular surfaces while the overall catheter remains controllable.
2Ease of operation
If a collapsible flexible catheter is used to conform to tissue surfaces, then ease of operation is improved, but structural integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the catheter have different mechanical properties tailored to their specific functions. The distal portion with electrodes is made highly flexible and collapsible to conform to tissue, the intermediate portion provides gradual transition, and the proximal portion maintains higher rigidity for structural support and control, creating a gradient of mechanical properties along the catheter length.
3Measurement precision
If mapping resolution is increased by collecting more data signals, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time worsens as procedures take longer
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates multiple electrodes arranged in three-dimensional configurations, including pairs of opposite-facing electrodes. This spatial arrangement allows simultaneous collection of electrical signals from multiple points and directions, enabling comprehensive mapping of cardiac tissue in three dimensions rather than sequential point-by-point mapping, thereby improving resolution while reducing procedure time.
Data Source
AI summary
An end effector for a catheter that can include a flexible circuit layer extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal portion to a distal portion, a framework extending generally parallel to the flexible circuit layer along the longitudinal axis from the proximal to the distal portion. and a flexible polymer layer encapsulating both the framework and the flexible circuit layer. The flexible circuit layer can include a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface.