Mapping Catheter Guidance for Phrenic Nerve-Safe Tissue Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical procedures face challenges in accurately identifying and monitoring tissue near catheters, particularly in treating cardiac arrhythmia, where complications such as phrenic nerve injury can occur due to the difficulty in precisely mapping and treating target sites without damaging non-targeted tissues like the phrenic nerve or esophagus.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a mapping catheter with multiple electrodes and a processing system to generate electrical activity maps, combined with a treatment catheter, allows for precise mapping of phrenic nerve location and monitoring during treatment, using devices like cryoablation catheters to minimize damage to non-targeted tissues by adjusting treatment element positioning based on nerve proximity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If catheters are used to treat tissue without precise mapping, then treatment can be performed, but the risk of damaging non-targeted tissues like phrenic nerve or esophagus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by mapping the phrenic nerve and esophagus locations before performing the ablation treatment. The mapping catheter is positioned to detect and record signals from these structures, creating a pre-treatment map that guides subsequent treatment catheter placement and energy delivery, thereby preventing accidental damage to non-targeted tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a mapping catheter as a separate tool before the treatment catheter. This mapping catheter with its electrodes serves as an intermediary device that first identifies and characterizes the spatial relationships between target and non-target structures, enabling the treatment catheter to proceed with confidence knowing the anatomical landscape.
2Measurement precision
If mapping catheter with multiple electrodes is used to locate phrenic nerve, then precision of tissue treatment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the mapping function into discrete electrode elements distributed along the catheter shaft. Each electrode can independently detect signals from nearby structures, and the processing system analyzes the differential signals between electrodes to triangulate the precise location of phrenic nerve and esophagus, achieving high measurement precision through modular sensing elements.
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
Enhances the precision of tissue treatment by reducing the risk of phrenic nerve injury and ensuring targeted ablation, thereby improving the safety and efficacy of procedures like cryoablation for cardiac arrhythmia.
Implementation Method 1
A mapping catheter with multiple electrodes and a processing system to generate electrical activity maps
Implementation Method 2
using devices like cryoablation catheters to minimize damage to non-targeted tissues
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices are described for mapping and treating tissue during a medical procedure. In some cases, a device includes a mesh of wires with sensors coupled thereto. The mapping device can be coupled to an expandable treatment element. Alternatively, the treatment device can be a separate device, and advanced through an access lumen in the mapping device. The expandable treatment element can include multiple segments. The sensors can be used to map a tissue area and monitor the tissue during a medical procedure.