Multi-use Endocardial Ablation Catheter with Nested Loop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheter ablation procedures for treating cardiac arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation, are cumbersome and require multiple catheters, leading to increased procedure time and risk, with limited success in treating the most common arrhythmia.
Innovation Solution
A dual-catheter system comprising an outer and inner ablation catheter, where the inner catheter can be deployed into an expanded loop geometry for creating circumferential lesions around ostia and retracted into a low-profile configuration for creating linear lesions, allowing for single-device treatment of cardiac arrhythmias with reduced procedural complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate catheters are used to create different electrical-isolation lines, then the ability to treat various arrhythmia patterns is improved, but the device complexity and procedural risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple catheter functions into a single integrated device. The outer catheter provides a shaft with ablative elements for creating linear lesions, while the inner catheter can be deployed to form a loop structure for circumferential lesions. This merging allows both linear and circumferential ablation capabilities in one device, eliminating the need for multiple separate catheters and reducing procedural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single catheter device is designed to perform multiple functions: the outer catheter can create linear lesions along its shaft, while the inner catheter can be deployed to create circumferential lesions around pulmonary vein ostia. This multi-functionality allows the device to treat various arrhythmia patterns (both linear isolation and circumferential isolation) without requiring multiple specialized catheters.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple catheters are deployed simultaneously, then comprehensive arrhythmia treatment is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inner catheter is nested within the outer catheter in a concentric configuration. The inner catheter can be selectively deployed from the outer catheter when needed for circumferential ablation, and retracted when linear ablation is required. This nesting arrangement allows comprehensive treatment capabilities while maintaining ease of operation, as the operator only needs to manipulate one catheter assembly rather than coordinate multiple independent catheters.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter system incorporates dynamic deployment and retraction of the inner catheter relative to the outer catheter. The inner catheter can be extended to form a loop for circumferential lesions and retracted for linear lesions along the outer catheter shaft. This dynamic configuration allows the operator to switch between different ablation patterns as needed, simplifying the procedure compared to using multiple fixed-function catheters.
3Device complexity
If a single catheter performs multiple functions, then device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different ablation patterns may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The single catheter is segmented into functional components: the outer catheter with its shaft and ablative elements for linear lesions, and the inner catheter that can be deployed to form a loop structure for circumferential lesions. This segmentation within a single device allows it to perform multiple ablation patterns, maintaining adaptability while reducing the number of separate catheters needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter design adds a spatial dimension to functionality by deploying the inner catheter in a loop configuration that extends radially outward from the outer catheter shaft. This dimensional transformation allows the single device to create both linear lesions (along the shaft) and circumferential lesions (around the loop), providing diverse ablation patterns without requiring multiple catheters.
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 dual-catheter system simplifies the creation of electrical-isolation lines, potentially increasing the success rate of cardiac ablation procedures while reducing the associated costs and risks, and can be used to treat various cardiac arrhythmias without the need for multiple devices.
Implementation Method 1
The endocardial catheter is activated according to various known modes of operation, such that the adjacent targeted tissue is ablated to create contiguous electrical-isolation lines
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprises introducing an ablation catheter assembly into a heart chamber of the patient, deploying an ablative loop structure from an elongated shaft of the ablation catheter assembly, placing the ablative loop structure in an expanded geometry, disposing the expanded ablative loop structure on the endocardial tissue around an ostium of a blood vessel extending from the heart chamber, activating the ablative loop structure, thereby creating a circumferential lesion around the ostium of the blood vessel, disposing the ablative shaft distal end, when the ablative loop structure is housed within the elongated shaft, at a target region of the endocardial tissue remote from the ostium of the blood vessel, and activating the ablative shaft distal end, thereby creating another lesion at the target region.