Intra-body probe distinguishing local ECG signals for ablation control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cardiac ablation therapies lack real-time monitoring capabilities to assess the effectiveness of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals during procedures, risking premature termination or over-ablation that can cause irreparable heart damage.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an intra-body probe with electrodes that distinguish between local and remote-field ECG components, allowing for real-time monitoring and control of the ablation procedure to prevent over-ablation by automatically terminating the process or notifying operators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real-time ECG monitoring is implemented during ablation, then ablation effectiveness can be assessed and over-ablation prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation catheter integrates multiple functions including RF energy delivery, ECG signal sensing, and temperature monitoring within a single device structure. The catheter tip contains both the ablation electrode and ECG electrodes that can detect local electrogram signals, eliminating the need for separate monitoring devices and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses signal processing algorithms as an intermediary to extract meaningful ECG information from the complex local electrogram signals. The system distinguishes between local myocardial activity and remote ECG components through computational methods, enabling reliable ablation assessment without requiring complex hardware modifications
2Device complexity
If ablation is performed without real-time ECG monitoring, then device complexity is reduced, but risk of over-ablation and heart damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors local ECG signals during ablation and provides real-time feedback on ablation effectiveness. When the ECG signal amplitude decreases by a predetermined amount (indicating successful lesion formation), the system can automatically terminate or adjust the ablation, preventing over-ablation and associated heart damage while keeping the device relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The ablation catheter performs self-assessment by detecting changes in its own electrical environment during ablation. The local electrogram signals recorded by the catheter's own electrodes provide intrinsic feedback about the ablation effect, allowing the device to monitor its own performance without requiring external complex monitoring systems
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus includes an intra-body probe and a processor. The intra-body probe includes an electrode, which is configured to contact tissue in a heart. The processor is configured to receive an electrical signal from the electrode, to distinguish a local component, due to the tissue with which the electrode is in contact, in the electrical signal from a remote-field contribution to the signal, and to control a therapeutic procedure applied to the tissue responsively to the distinguished local component.