Multi-Pole Pulmonary Artery Ablation Catheter With Saline Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current clinical treatments for pulmonary hypertension are limited in efficacy and often have significant side effects, high costs, and unreliable outcomes, particularly for secondary pulmonary hypertension associated with conditions like pulmonary interstitial fibrosis and connective tissue disease.

Innovation Solution

A multi-pole synchronous pulmonary artery radiofrequency ablation catheter that selectively heats adherent tissue using electrodes, while cooling with cold saline perfusion to protect the vascular intima, and can adjust curvature for precise ablation, targeting sympathetic nerves in the pulmonary artery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If radiofrequency ablation is applied to treat pulmonary hypertension, then sympathetic nerves are effectively blocked and pulmonary artery pressure decreases, but the vascular intima may be damaged due to heat exposure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidvascular intima damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ablation catheter divides the treatment area into multiple zones with multiple electrodes arranged in arrays, allowing selective and controlled ablation of sympathetic nerves while protecting the vascular intima through segmented energy delivery and cold saline perfusion barriers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Cold saline perfusion is introduced as an intermediary substance between the radiofrequency electrodes and the vascular intima, absorbing excess heat and protecting the vascular wall from thermal damage while allowing effective nerve ablation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If multiple electrodes are used for synchronous ablation, then treatment precision and efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveablation efficiencyVSAvoidcatheter structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple electrodes are merged into a single catheter body with integrated lead wires and connections, allowing synchronous ablation at multiple sites simultaneously while maintaining a unified, manageable device structure that simplifies operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter design integrates multiple functions including radiofrequency energy delivery, cold saline perfusion, and anatomical navigation capabilities within a single device, reducing the need for multiple separate instruments and simplifying the overall procedural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If the catheter heats adherent tissue selectively, then ablation precision is improved, but energy loss increases due to selective heating requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveablation precisionVSAvoidenergy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter applies radiofrequency energy locally and selectively to adherent tissue through electrode-tissue contact, concentrating thermal energy where needed for precise ablation while minimizing energy loss to surrounding blood and non-target tissues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes phase transition of cold saline from liquid to vapor at the tissue interface, creating an immediate thermal barrier that prevents heat penetration into the vascular intima while allowing controlled ablation of the targeted sympathetic nerve tissue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

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 catheter provides effective treatment of pulmonary hypertension by reducing pulmonary artery pressure through de-sympathetic methods, offering simple operation, precise ablation, and minimizing blood heating, with potential for improved patient outcomes.

Implementation Method 1

multi-pole synchronous pulmonary artery radiofrequency ablation catheter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiofrequency ablation: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

the catheter can be configured to provide cold saline perfusion at or near the ablation site to protect the vascular intima

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCold saline perfusion cooling: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS12458427B2Multi-pole synchronous pulmonary artery radiofrequency ablation catheter

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 PULNOVO MEDICAL INC

AI summary

A multi-pole synchronous pulmonary artery radiofrequency ablation catheter may comprise a control handle, a catheter body and an annular ring. One end of the catheter body may be flexible, and the flexible end of the catheter body may be connected to the annular ring. The other end of the catheter body may be connected to the control handle. A shape memory wire may be arranged in the annular ring. One end of the shape memory wire may extend to an end of the annular ring and the other end of the shape memory wire may pass through a root of the annular ring and be fixed on the flexible end of the catheter body. The annular ring may be provided with an electrode group. The device possesses advantages of simple operation, short operation time and controllable precise ablation. The device can be used to treat pulmonary hypertension with pulmonary denervation.