Force Sensing Catheter Sealed Electrode Tip Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ablation catheters face challenges in sealing force sensors from irrigation fluid, leading to inaccurate force measurements due to strain on fiber optics and potential leaks, which can affect the reliability of temperature and force monitoring during medical procedures.
Innovation Solution
The ablation catheter design includes a force sensor with a deformable body coupled to an irrigation conduit, a flexible electrode tip assembly with a seal between the deformable body and the electrode tip, and a temperature sensor routed through the irrigation conduit to reduce leaks and stress on the force sensor, enabling accurate force and temperature monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the force sensor is sealed within the ablation assembly to prevent fluid interference, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the size of the force sensor must be increased which increases strain on fiber optics and leads to inaccurate force readings
Solution Approach 1:
The force sensor is nested within the electrode tip assembly, with the electrode tip assembly serving as the sealing structure. The deformable body of the force sensor is positioned within the electrode tip assembly, and the seal is disposed between the electrode tip assembly and the deformable body, creating a nested configuration that provides sealing without requiring the force sensor to be the outermost structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal acts as an intermediary element between the irrigation conduit/force sensor and the electrode tip assembly. This seal prevents irrigation fluid from reaching the force sensor while allowing the compact nested configuration to maintain measurement accuracy without increasing fiber optic strain.
2Measurement precision
If the force sensor is sealed to prevent irrigation fluid from interfering with fiber optics, then force measurement accuracy is improved, but the seal may create leaks that affect temperature and force monitoring reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The force sensor is nested within the electrode tip assembly, with the electrode tip assembly serving as the sealing structure. The deformable body of the force sensor is positioned within the electrode tip assembly, and the seal is disposed between the electrode tip assembly and the deformable body, creating a nested configuration that provides sealing without requiring the force sensor to be the outermost structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal acts as an intermediary element between the irrigation conduit/force sensor and the electrode tip assembly. This seal prevents irrigation fluid from reaching the force sensor while allowing the compact nested configuration to maintain measurement accuracy without increasing fiber optic strain.
3Ease of operation
If the electrode tip assembly is made flexible to accommodate the force sensor and seal, then ease of manipulation is improved, but the structural integrity for accurate force sensing may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode tip assembly is made flexible in its overall structure to accommodate manipulation within the body, while the force sensor portion with the seal maintains local structural integrity. The deformable body of the force sensor is specifically designed to sense force while the rest of the electrode tip assembly provides flexibility for manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode tip assembly uses flexible materials to allow manipulation while the force sensor incorporates a deformable body that can sense force. The seal is disposed between the flexible electrode tip assembly and the deformable body, allowing the flexible structure to maintain both maneuverability and sensing capability.
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
This design provides a reliable seal, reduces component complexity and cost, and improves the accuracy of force and temperature measurements during ablation procedures by minimizing fluid interference with the force sensor.
Implementation Method 1
The seal is disposed between the flexible electrode tip assembly and the deformable body
Implementation Method 2
The temperature of the ablation assembly may be monitored during a procedure using a thermocouple
Implementation Method 3
Such contact may be monitored using a force sensor provided within the ablation assembly. The force sensor may be an optical force sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an ablation catheter that includes an irrigation conduit, a force sensor, a flexible electrode tip assembly, a seal, and a temperature sensor. The irrigation conduit defines an irrigation lumen configured to carry irrigation fluid to a distal end of the ablation catheter. The force sensor includes a deformable body coupled to the irrigation conduit adjacent a distal end thereof. The flexible electrode tip assembly is coupled to the deformable body and extends distally therefrom, and defines an interior cavity in fluid communication with the irrigation lumen, an exterior cavity in which a distal portion of the deformable body is received, and at least one fluid channel through which irrigation fluid is dispensed from the interior cavity. The seal is disposed between the flexible electrode tip assembly and the deformable body, and the temperature sensor extends through the irrigation lumen and into the flexible electrode tip assembly.