Multi-electrode Ablator Tip with Omnidirectional Thermal Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ablation catheters face challenges in accurately monitoring temperature and assessing lesion formation due to thermal gradients and the limitations of single thermal sensors, which can lead to inadequate thermal control and incomplete ablation.
Innovation Solution
The development of a catheter tip with an electrically-insulative substrate and multiple thermal sensors positioned on the tip surface, allowing for dual-mode, omni-directional feedback that includes thermal and electrical sensing, enabling accurate temperature measurement and lesion assessment regardless of tip orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single thermal sensor is used in the ablation catheter, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature measurement precision deteriorates due to thermal gradients and orientation dependence
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation tip is segmented into multiple thermal sensors distributed across its surface, allowing each sensor to independently measure temperature at its specific location. This segmentation enables accurate temperature mapping despite thermal gradients and regardless of tip orientation, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point temperature measurement to a multi-dimensional temperature field measurement by placing sensors at different locations on the ablation tip surface. This dimensional expansion allows comprehensive thermal monitoring that is independent of tip orientation and captures spatial temperature variations.
2Reliability
If multiple thermal sensors are positioned on the tip surface, then the temperature feedback reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple thermal sensors serve universal functions: they collectively provide omnidirectional temperature monitoring, enable dual-mode feedback (thermal and electrical), and ensure reliable temperature data regardless of tip orientation. This multi-functionality justifies the increased device complexity by delivering comprehensive and reliable temperature feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dual-mode feedback using multiple thermal sensors combined with electrical sensors, creating a comprehensive feedback system that continuously monitors temperature and provides real-time information for safe and effective ablation, thereby improving reliability despite increased complexity.
3Measurement precision
If single-mode sensing is used, then the device complexity is minimized, but the lesion assessment accuracy deteriorates due to incomplete thermal control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges thermal sensing and electrical sensing into a unified dual-mode feedback system, combining the advantages of both sensing modalities to achieve comprehensive lesion assessment. This merging of sensing modes improves measurement precision by cross-validating temperature data with electrical impedance measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The ablation catheter is designed with multi-functionality, serving both ablation and comprehensive sensing functions (thermal and electrical) through a single device. This universal design enables accurate lesion assessment without requiring multiple separate devices, balancing improved accuracy with acceptable device complexity.
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
This solution provides reliable and accurate real-time temperature feedback and lesion assessment, ensuring effective ablation by minimizing thermal gradient errors and ensuring that at least one sensor is directly facing the tissue, regardless of the tip's orientation, thereby improving ablation efficacy and reducing the risk of incomplete lesions.
Implementation Method 1
multiple thermal sensors positioned on the tip surface, allowing for dual-mode, omni-directional feedback that includes thermal and electrical sensing, enabling accurate temperature measurement
Implementation Method 2
radio frequency (RF) ablation, an electrophysiology catheter imparts ablative energy to cardiac tissue to create one or more lesions
Data Source
AI summary
Electrode assemblies include segmented electrodes disposed on a catheter. The segmented electrodes can be constructed at the tip of the catheter. Tip electrodes can be constructed from an electrically insulative substrate comprising an inner lumen, an external tip surface, and a plurality of channels extending from the inner lumen to the external tip surface, a plurality of segmented electrodes, and a plurality of spot electrodes. Each of the plurality of segmented electrodes and each of the plurality of spot electrodes can be laterally separated from each other by an electrically non-conductive substrate portion and each of the spot electrodes and each of the segmented electrodes can be electrically coupled to at least one wire or conductor trace.