Image-Guided Robotic Convergent Ablation for Cardiac Electrical Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endocardial catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation is limited by the complexity of isolating electrical pathways, especially in patients with structural heart disease, while epicardial surgical approaches are invasive and minimally invasive methods lack success rates.

Innovation Solution

A robotic system autonomously controls multiple surgical robots to execute a convergent ablation plan, adjusting navigation based on surgical plans and revising plans if robots encounter navigation issues, using a modular network of planners, navigators, and trackers to ensure comprehensive lesion patterns inside and outside the heart.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual catheter ablation is performed inside the heart, then the procedure can be executed with current technology, but the complexity of isolating electrical pathways increases and success rates decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuccess rate of ablationVSAvoidcomplexity of isolating electrical pathways

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical catheter manipulation with an autonomous robotic system that uses image guidance and automated control algorithms to navigate and perform ablation procedures, thereby reducing procedural complexity and improving reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a virtual 3D model of the heart's electrical pathways based on imaging data, allowing the autonomous robot to plan and execute ablation paths in silico before actual procedure, reducing the complexity of real-time manual isolation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If epicardial surgical approaches are used to treat AF, then success rates improve, but the invasiveness of the procedure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuccess rate of AF treatmentVSAvoidinvasiveness of surgical approach

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous robotic system performs epicardial ablation with precision that matches open-heart surgery success rates while using minimally invasive access points, eliminating the need for full sternotomy or thoracotomy required in traditional surgical approaches

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The procedure divides the ablation task into separate endocardial and epicardial components performed by coordinated robotic systems, allowing each to operate through small access points rather than requiring a single large incision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If minimally invasive epicardial approaches are performed, then invasiveness is reduced, but success rates do not match open chest procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinvasiveness of procedureVSAvoidsuccess rate of AF treatment

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Autonomous robotic control with image guidance enables minimally invasive epicardial ablation to achieve the same lesion quality and completeness as open-heart surgery, overcoming the limitations of manual minimally invasive techniques

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If hybrid procedures with multiple robots are implemented, then comprehensive lesion patterns are achieved, but the complexity of coordinating navigation and planning increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of electrical isolationVSAvoidcomplexity of coordinating multiple robots

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the navigation, planning, and control functions of multiple robotic systems into a single integrated autonomous control platform that coordinates endocardial and epicardial robots simultaneously, reducing the operational complexity that would arise from separate control systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

A central autonomous controller acts as an intermediary between multiple robotic systems, translating the surgical plan into coordinated navigation commands for each robot and adjusting plans in real-time based on navigation feedback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3397186B1Image guided robotic convergent ablation

Publication Date: 2025.10.29 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

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AI summary

A robotic system employing a plurality of surgical robots (20) and a surgical procedure controller (22)for executing a surgical procedure on an anatomical structure (e.g., a heart) within an anatomical region(e.g., a thoracic region). In operation, controller (22) autonomously controls a navigation of each surgical robot (20) within the anatomical region relative to the anatomical structure by directing a navigation of each surgical robot (20) within the anatomical region relative to the anatomical structure based on a surgical plan for executing the surgical procedure on the anatomical structure (e.g., a convergent ablation plan consisting of an epicardial ablation plan for abating an exterior of a heart and an endocardial ablation plan for ablating an interior of the heart) and further by revising the surgical plan responsive to a partial or complete inability of one or more of the surgical robots (20) to be navigated within the anatomical region relative to the anatomical structure based on the surgical plan.