3D Heart Simulation System for Catheter Training
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current training methods for cardiac electrophysiologists lack effective simulation of invasive medical procedures, particularly in handling catheters and interpreting electroanatomical maps during catheter-based mapping and ablation procedures, which are crucial for treating cardiac arrhythmias.
Innovation Solution
A simulation system that includes a 3-D heart model with a sensor mesh and a simulation controller, allowing for realistic simulation of catheter interactions, including contact and electrical impulses, to mimic the experience of performing procedures on a patient, using conventional EP catheters and electro-anatomical mapping systems like CARTO, CARTO XP, or CARTO 3.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional training methods are used for cardiac electrophysiologists, then training can be performed with existing resources, but the training effectiveness in simulating invasive procedures is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a physical 3-D heart model that copies the anatomical structure and electrophysiological behavior of a real human heart. This includes replicating chambers, vessels, and electrical conduction pathways to provide realistic training conditions without requiring actual patient procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a simulation controller as an intermediary between the trainee and actual patient procedures. This controller manages the physical heart model and provides feedback, allowing trainees to practice invasive procedures in a controlled environment before working with real patients
2Reliability
If a detailed physical 3-D heart model with sensor mesh is created, then realistic catheter interaction simulation is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The physical heart model is segmented into distinct functional components including chambers, vessels, and a sensor mesh system. This segmentation allows each component to be independently constructed and tested, managing complexity while maintaining overall realism
Solution Approach 2:
The simulation controller serves multiple functions: it manages the sensor mesh, generates electrical impulse patterns, tracks catheter position, and provides feedback to the display system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems for each function
3Measurement precision
If realistic electrophysiological behavior is simulated including arrhythmias, then training accuracy improves, but measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor mesh provides continuous feedback on catheter position and electrical activity within the physical heart model. This feedback is processed by the simulation controller to update the display in real-time, helping trainees learn to interpret electrophysiological data with guided information
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
Provides healthcare professionals with a realistic training environment that enhances their handling and interpretation skills, improving their ability to perform catheter-based mapping and ablation procedures by simulating normal and abnormal ECGs and arrhythmias, thus improving procedural accuracy and patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a physical model of a heart including a sensor mesh... in responsive to one or more activities of and/or interactions with a catheter, including surface contact by the catheter, emitting electrical impulses for sensing by the catheter
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A system for simulating a medical procedure includes: a physical model of an organ including a sensor mesh; a camera system including a plurality of cameras having overlapping fields of view directed at the physical model of the organ; a user input device including a distal end inserted within the physical model of the organ; a display device; and a simulation controller coupled to the sensor mesh, the camera system, the user input device, and the display device, the simulation controller including a processor and memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: initialize a simulation of the organ; display, on the display device, a representation of a state of the simulation of the organ; receive contact data from the sensor mesh; receive images from the cameras; compute a location of the distal end of the user input device within the physical model of the organ in accordance with the contact data and the images; receive user input from the user input device; update the state of the simulation of the organ in accordance with the user input; and display, on the display device, the updated state of the simulation.