Orthogonal Stacked Electrode Catheters for Fibrillation Core Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ablation techniques for cardiac fibrillation are less than desirable, with success rates below 70% due to the complexity of identifying the ever-changing and self-perpetuating electrical activities, leading to potential harm and increased likelihood of further episodes, and existing catheters face challenges with electrode size, spacing, and contact stability, complicating data acquisition during arrhythmias.
Innovation Solution
A catheter system with an array of stacked electrode pairs, configured orthogonally to the cardiac tissue surface, uses electrogram analysis to determine electrode contact and orientation, enabling accurate frequency mapping and optimized ablation lesion placement tailored to individual patients, minimizing the amount of ablation required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current ablation techniques are used for cardiac fibrillation, then treatment can be performed, but success rate is below 70% and complications increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mapping and identification of electrical circuit cores and activation patterns before ablation treatment. By analyzing electrograms and calculating activation frequencies in advance, the system determines optimal ablation targets and plans the treatment sequence, ensuring higher success rates and reducing complications through targeted rather than blind ablation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors and analyzes electrogram signals during the procedure, providing real-time feedback on activation frequencies and circuit dynamics. This feedback enables dynamic adjustment of ablation parameters and target selection, optimizing the treatment to achieve higher success rates while minimizing harmful effects.
2Adaptability or versatility
If generalized ablation strategies are applied based on basic research, then treatment can be performed, but accuracy and effectiveness are reduced due to patient-specific variability
Solution Approach 1:
The system analyzes local electrogram characteristics at multiple sites within the heart to identify patient-specific activation patterns and circuit core locations. By determining activation frequencies and spatial relationships locally rather than applying uniform guidelines, the system achieves precise identification of fibrillation mechanisms tailored to each patient's unique anatomy and electrophysiology.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical/manual identification methods with automated computational analysis of electrogram signals. By using algorithms to calculate activation frequencies, detect circuit cores, and model electrical propagation, the system achieves higher precision and objectivity in identifying fibrillation mechanisms compared to traditional manual mapping techniques.
3Productivity
If existing catheters with large electrodes are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but data acquisition becomes time-consuming and contact stability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple segments with electrodes positioned at different locations along its length. This segmentation allows simultaneous recording from multiple sites, enabling parallel data acquisition that significantly reduces the time required to map activation patterns and identify circuit cores compared to sequential measurement with single-site electrodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from single-point measurement to multi-dimensional spatial sampling by positioning electrodes in three-dimensional configurations within the heart chambers. This dimensional expansion enables concurrent acquisition of activation data from multiple spatial locations, accelerating the mapping process while maintaining contact stability through optimized electrode-tissue interface design.
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 system enhances the success rate of ablation treatments by accurately mapping cardiac fibrillation, optimizing lesion placement, and minimizing further episodes, reducing complications and improving patient-specific treatment strategies.
Implementation Method 1
uses electrogram analysis to determine electrode contact and orientation
Implementation Method 2
minimally-invasive ablation procedures, whereby lines of non-conducting tissue are created across the cardiac tissue
Data Source
AI summary
Catheters, systems, and related methods for optimized for mapping, minimizing, and treating cardiac fibrillation in a patient, including an array of at least one stacked electrode pair, each electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein each electrode pair is configured to be orthogonal to a surface of a cardiac tissue substrate, wherein each first electrode is in contact with the surface to record a first signal, and wherein each second electrode is separated from the first electrode by a distance which enables the second electrode to record a second signal, wherein the catheter is configured to obtain one or more measurements from at least a first signal and a second signal in response to electrical activity in the cardiac tissue substrate indicative of a number of electrical circuit cores and distribution of the electrical circuit cores for a duration across the cardiac tissue substrate.