Floating Jaw Ablation Device for Pulmonary Vein Lesion Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally-invasive cardiac ablation techniques face challenges in accurately delivering linear lesions to tissue, particularly around pulmonary veins, which can lead to incomplete treatment of atrial fibrillations and require invasive procedures.
Innovation Solution
A bipolar ablation device with a hinge and cam assembly, featuring floating jaws and four-bar linkages, allows for precise articulation and energy delivery to cardiac tissue adjacent pulmonary veins through minimally-invasive side approaches, eliminating the need for thoracotomy and enabling bilateral access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional bipolar ablation devices are used to deliver linear lesions to cardiac tissue, then the treatment can be performed with simpler device structure, but the precision and accuracy of lesion delivery to tissue adjacent pulmonary veins is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic jaw mechanism where the second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw through a hinge assembly, allowing the device to adapt its configuration to accommodate the three-dimensional anatomy of pulmonary veins. This dynamic adjustment capability enables precise positioning of electrodes against the tissue surface, improving lesion delivery accuracy without requiring overly complex fixed structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The ablation device is segmented into multiple independent components including a first jaw with first electrode, a second jaw with second electrode, and a hinge assembly connecting them. This segmentation allows each component to be independently controlled and positioned, enabling precise delivery of linear lesions along the pulmonary vein anatomy while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
2Duration of action of moving object
If minimally-invasive techniques are used to reduce patient recovery time, then patient recovery is improved, but the ability to accurately deliver linear lesions to cardiac tissue adjacent pulmonary veins is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The movable second jaw connected through a hinge assembly provides dynamic adaptability that compensates for the limitations of minimally-invasive access. The device can articulate and conform to the target tissue geometry despite being introduced through small incisions, thereby maintaining accurate linear lesion delivery capability while achieving the benefits of reduced patient recovery time associated with minimally-invasive techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes controlled movement of the second jaw relative to the first jaw, changing the spatial parameters of electrode positioning to accurately deliver lesions along the pulmonary vein tissue surface. This parameter control through mechanical articulation ensures precise lesion delivery is achieved even through minimally-invasive access routes that limit surgical exposure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a floating jaw mechanism is implemented to accommodate tissue variation, then the adaptability to target tissue is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional linkage mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The floating jaw is achieved through a hinge assembly that connects the first and second jaws, allowing the second jaw to move freely and articulate in response to tissue contours. This dynamic linkage provides the necessary adaptability to accommodate variations in target tissue geometry while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure that does not overly complicate the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly creates an asymmetric relationship between the first and second jaws, where the second jaw has freedom of movement while the first jaw serves as a more stable reference. This asymmetric design provides effective adaptability to tissue variation without requiring symmetric complexity in both jaws, thereby achieving high adaptability with controlled device complexity.
4Manufacturing precision
If bilateral access through side approaches is used to treat pulmonary veins, then the precision of energy delivery to adjacent tissue is improved, but the procedural complexity increases requiring multiple catheter insertions
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed as a segmented system with a first jaw and second jaw that can be independently positioned and controlled. This segmentation allows each jaw to be delivered through separate catheter access routes and independently manipulated to achieve precise energy delivery to pulmonary vein tissue from bilateral side approaches, while the modular nature helps manage procedural complexity through coordinated independent control.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly and jaw mechanism provide multi-functional capability, allowing the device to accommodate various access routes including bilateral side approaches. The same mechanical structure enables both jaws to function together for precise energy delivery regardless of the specific access path taken, thereby achieving high precision while the universal design helps streamline the overall procedure despite multiple insertions.
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 device effectively ablates cardiac tissue with enhanced precision and reduced invasiveness, allowing for targeted energy delivery and minimizing tissue damage, thereby improving patient recovery outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
Ablation device with jaws... electrodes that can receive ablation energy... effectively ablates cardiac tissue with enhanced precision
Data Source
AI summary
System, device and method for ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient through an incision. An ablation device can include a hinge including a cam assembly, a moving arm, a floating jaw, and a lower jaw. Fingers can engage the floating jaw to hold the floating jaw in a first position with respect to the moving arm. Some embodiments of the invention can provide an ablation device including a central support, an upper four-bar linkage coupled to the central support, an upper jaw coupled to the upper linkage, a lower four-bar linkage coupled to the central support, and a lower jaw coupled to the lower linkage. Some embodiments of the invention can provide an ablation device having an upper jaw including a first cannula connection and a lower jaw including a second cannula connection. The system can include a first catheter coupled to the first cannula connection and a second catheter coupled to the second cannula connection. The first and second catheters can be inserted through the incision and can move the upper and lower jaws adjacent the pulmonary veins.