Mapping Catheter Anchoring via Nested Loop and Reduced-Dimension Advancement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical ablation systems face challenges in maintaining a stable position and orientation during procedures, particularly when anchoring to patient tissue, leading to potential instability and inaccurate mapping and ablation.
Innovation Solution
A mapping catheter with a distal end formed from a memory shape material that bends into a preformed loop, featuring a reduced-dimension portion that advances distally through the loop when a force is applied, enhancing anchoring stability by allowing the catheter to securely engage with patient tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional mapping catheter is used, then the procedure can be performed, but the catheter is prone to tilting, pivoting, or shifting during the procedure, leading to instability
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter body is segmented into distinct functional portions: a distal portion with electrodes, a reduced-dimension portion, and a proximal portion. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally while contributing to overall anchoring stability through the loop configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The reduced-dimension portion is nested within the loop formed by the distal portion. When the reduced-dimension portion advances distally through the loop, it creates a nested configuration that mechanically locks the catheter in place, preventing tilting, pivoting, or shifting during the procedure.
2Ease of operation
If the catheter is made flexible for navigation, then it can be inserted into vasculature, but it lacks sufficient anchoring ability to maintain stable position during ablation
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter transitions from a flexible, navigable state during insertion to a dynamically locked anchoring state during the procedure. The reduced-dimension portion can advance through the loop to engage with tissue, transforming the catheter from a passive flexible tube to an actively anchored device that resists displacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter utilizes changes in dimensional parameters along its length, with the reduced-dimension portion having a smaller cross-sectional dimension than adjacent sections. This parameter variation enables the reduced-dimension portion to pass through the loop and engage tissue, providing anchoring while maintaining overall flexibility for navigation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the catheter uses a simple linear design, then it is easy to manufacture, but it cannot achieve secure engagement with patient tissue for stable mapping and ablation
Solution Approach 1:
The distal portion is pre-formed into a loop configuration before insertion. This preliminary shaping allows the loop to engage with tissue walls upon insertion, and the subsequent advancement of the reduced-dimension portion through the loop secures the anchoring position without requiring complex assembly steps during the procedure.
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 solution provides improved stability and anchoring of the ablation system to patient tissue, reducing the likelihood of tilting, pivoting, or shifting during procedures, thereby ensuring accurate electrical mapping and ablation.
Implementation Method 1
The distal end is formed, at least in part, from a memory shape material that bends into a preformed shape upon release from a confined space
Data Source
AI summary
A mapping catheter includes an elongated body for inserting into patient vasculature. A distal end of the elongated body includes a distal portion that includes a plurality of electrodes, a proximal portion disposed proximal to the distal portion, and a reduced-dimension portion disposed between the proximal and distal portions. The distal end is formed, at least in part, from a memory shape material that bends into a preformed shape upon release from a confined space. The preformed shape includes a first loop formed, at least in part, by the distal portion. The first loop is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the proximal portion. The reduced-dimension portion is configured and arranged to bend such that the reduced-dimension section advances distally through the first loop when the first loop is held in a fixed position and a force is applied distally along the longitudinal axis of the proximal portion.