Pericardial Catheter Temperature Sensing Array for Lesion Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cardiac ablation procedures face challenges in monitoring local tissue heating during ablation to prevent collateral damage to adjacent tissues and organs, such as the lungs or esophagus, and in accurately estimating lesion dimensions in real-time, which can lead to adverse events.
Innovation Solution
A catheter equipped with a temperature sensing array adapted for placement in the pericardial sac, capable of sensing temperature on the epicardial wall and surrounding tissues, providing real-time data to an electrophysiology mapping system to estimate lesion dimensions and prevent excessive heating, thereby mitigating damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ablation is performed at high temperature to destroy unwanted electrical pathways, then ablation efficacy is improved, but collateral damage to heart wall and adjacent tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places temperature sensors in the pericardial cavity before ablation begins, allowing prediction of lesion formation and proactive adjustment of ablation parameters to prevent excessive heating and collateral damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements real-time temperature monitoring during ablation using sensors positioned in the pericardial cavity, providing feedback control to adjust ablation power and duration to achieve desired lesion depth while preventing overheating and damage to adjacent structures
2Reliability
If ablation duration is extended to ensure complete destruction of abnormal conduction pathways, then ablation efficacy is improved, but risk of tissue perforation and damage to adjacent organs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions temperature sensors in the pericardial cavity before ablation to establish a baseline and predict thermal propagation, enabling determination of optimal ablation duration before harmful effects occur
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses real-time temperature data from pericardial sensors during ablation to dynamically adjust treatment duration, stopping or reducing power when predicted lesion depth approaches safe limits, thereby preventing perforation and organ damage
3Measurement precision
If temperature sensing array is placed in contact with epicardial wall for accurate monitoring, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates temperature sensing capabilities into a catheter designed for pericardial access, allowing the same device to perform both positioning and temperature monitoring functions without requiring separate specialized catheters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions temperature sensors in the pericardial cavity space rather than directly on the epicardial surface, using the third dimension (depth into the cavity) to achieve accurate temperature measurement while maintaining catheter flexibility and ease of deployment
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 effectively monitors local tissue heating to prevent collateral damage and accurately estimates lesion dimensions, improving the efficacy of ablation procedures while reducing the risk of adverse events.
Implementation Method 1
Because resistive heating of tissue from ablation within an atrium or ventricle radiates outwardly from the myocardium, heating can be detected in the pericardial cavity
Implementation Method 2
heating can be detected in the pericardial cavity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A catheter adapted for use in the pericardial sac to sense temperature of an ablation site and surrounding heart tissue within one of the heart's ventricles or atria via proximity with the epicardium in the pericardial sac, includes a catheter body and a temperature sensing array adapted for placement on and contact with the epicardium. The temperature sensing array may comprise a 2-D body, with a surface adapted to contact an area on the epicardial tissue or in pericardial space. The array may also comprise at least one finger member, each having at least one temperature sensing location. The array may further comprise an elongated body having a generally circular configuration, a distal portion of which is movable to a spirally inward position.