Multi-frequency Catheter for Real-time Cardiac Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical procedures for visualizing and tracking intra-body surfaces, such as those during cardiac arrhythmia treatments, require extensive time and resources due to the reliance on techniques like fluoroscopy, CT, and MRI, which are not always efficient for real-time visualization and tracking.
Innovation Solution
A catheter equipped with a multi-frequency ultrasonic transducer array that transmits both wide and narrow beam ultrasonic signals, allowing for instant localization of surface points and reconstruction of intra-body cavity maps with enhanced contrast, using a processor to process echo signals and identify free space within the cavity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fluoroscopy, CT, and MRI are used for visualizing and tracking intra-body surfaces, then visualization capability is achieved, but procedural time and resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy mechanical imaging systems (fluoroscopy, CT, MRI) with a lightweight ultrasonic transducer array that can be integrated into the catheter itself. This substitution enables real-time imaging without the time-consuming setup and operation of large external imaging equipment, directly resolving the contradiction between visualization capability and procedural time.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is designed with multi-functional capabilities by integrating both therapeutic functions (ablation) and diagnostic functions (imaging and mapping) into a single device. The ultrasonic transducer array enables the catheter to perform real-time imaging, surface mapping, and localization simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate imaging procedures and reducing overall procedural time.
2Measurement precision
If traditional imaging techniques are used for real-time tracking, then surface visualization is obtained, but resource consumption and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic transducer array is nested within the catheter structure, with transducers positioned on the catheter surface or integrated into the catheter body. This nesting approach allows the imaging system to be contained within the therapeutic catheter, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining real-time tracking capabilities through the compact integrated design.
3Area of stationary object
If wide beam ultrasonic signals are transmitted, then coverage area is increased, but spatial resolution decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic transducer array is divided into multiple individually controllable elements that can transmit and receive ultrasonic signals independently. This segmentation allows the system to synthesize different beam patterns (wide or narrow) by selectively activating specific transducer elements, thereby achieving both wide coverage and high resolution as needed without the trade-off inherent in single-element systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional two-dimensional ultrasonic imaging to three-dimensional mapping capabilities by utilizing the array geometry and signal processing techniques. This dimensional enhancement allows the system to achieve comprehensive spatial coverage while maintaining high resolution through volumetric data acquisition and reconstruction, resolving the coverage-resolution trade-off.
4Measurement precision
If narrow beam ultrasonic signals are transmitted, then spatial resolution is improved, but coverage area and acquisition time are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented transducer array enables parallel transmission and reception of ultrasonic signals from multiple elements simultaneously. This parallel processing capability allows the system to acquire high-resolution data from multiple spatial locations at the same time, maintaining high spatial resolution while significantly improving mapping speed and overall productivity.
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 approach enables rapid and accurate spatial mapping of cardiac chambers, significantly reducing procedural time by allowing real-time tracking and visualization of endocardial surfaces, including complex arrhythmias, with improved contrast and reduced acquisition time.
Implementation Method 1
each of the plurality of multi-frequency ultrasonic transducers may be further configured to receive a wide beam echo signal and narrow beam echo signal in response to the wide beam ultrasonic signal and a narrow beam ultrasound signal, respectively
Implementation Method 2
An ultrasonic transducer array including a plurality of multi-frequency ultrasonic transducers may be arranged on the catheter
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides systems, apparatuses and methods that include a catheter configured to be inserted into an intra-body cavity of a patient. An ultrasonic transducer array including a plurality of multi-frequency ultrasonic transducers may be arranged on the catheter. Each of the plurality of multi-frequency ultrasonic transducers may be configured to transmit a wide beam ultrasonic signal and a narrow beam ultrasound signal, and may further be configured to receive a wide beam echo signal and narrow beam echo signal. A processor may be configured to detect free space of the intra-body cavity by processing the wide beam echo signals and the narrow beam echo signals.