PFA Irrigation Timing for Faster Catheter Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pulsed field ablation (PFA) systems require excessive time for catheter stabilization due to intra-burst delays and irrigation ramp-up periods, compromising procedural efficiency and physician comfort.

Innovation Solution

A modified PFA sequence with reduced or eliminated intra-burst delays and continuous irrigation during and after ablation, allowing for immediate subsequent lesions without additional ramp-up delays, using a controller to manage pump operation based on a preset timer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If traditional PFA sequence with intra-burst delays and irrigation ramp-up is used, then temperature regulation is maintained, but catheter stabilization time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature regulationVSAvoidcatheter stabilization time

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-activates irrigation before the PFA sequence begins, ensuring that cooling fluid is already flowing at full rate when ablation starts. This eliminates the ramp-up delay and allows immediate effective cooling during energy delivery, reducing the time needed for catheter stabilization while maintaining temperature control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Irrigation is maintained continuously throughout the entire PFA sequence without interruption or ramp-up periods. The cooling fluid flows at full rate from the moment the sequence starts, providing continuous effective cooling that eliminates waiting time while ensuring temperature regulation is maintained throughout the ablation process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Temperature

If irrigation is activated before PFA sequence, then temperature control is improved, but procedure duration increases due to ramp-up time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidprocedure duration

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The irrigation system is pre-activated and running at full rate before the PFA sequence begins. This preliminary activation eliminates the need for ramp-up time during the procedure, allowing the physician to start ablation immediately while maintaining effective temperature control throughout

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Irrigation flows continuously at full rate throughout the entire procedure without interruption. This continuous operation eliminates delays associated with ramp-up and maintains consistent cooling effectiveness, significantly reducing overall procedure duration while ensuring adequate temperature control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Temperature

If multiple lesions are delivered with traditional irrigation timing, then comprehensive cooling is achieved, but number of lesions per hour is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidnumber of lesions per hour

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Irrigation is activated before each PFA sequence, ensuring cooling is ready immediately. This allows rapid succession of multiple lesions without waiting for ramp-up periods between procedures, increasing the number of lesions that can be delivered per hour while maintaining effective cooling at each site

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Irrigation runs continuously at full rate throughout the entire ablation process without interruption. This continuous cooling availability allows rapid delivery of multiple lesions in succession, maximizing procedural throughput while ensuring each lesion receives adequate cooling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

Significantly reduces catheter stabilization time and overall procedure duration while maintaining temperature regulation and lesion quality, enhancing procedural efficiency and reducing irrigation fluid volume.

Implementation Method 1

A pump is configured for delivering irrigation to the lesion site

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

A PFA sequence is delivered to form a lesion at the selected lesion site

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPulsed field ablation: Ablation

Implementation Method 3

Although PFA is not based on heating, there is still may be some local heating during the ablation process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 4

Irrigation is typically applied to regulate the local heating during the ablation process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection cooling: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS20260053553A1Irrigation workflow for pulsed field ablation

Publication Date: 2026.02.26 BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISRAEL) LTD

AI summary

A method for irrigation during pulsed field ablation (PFA) includes operating a pump for delivering irrigation in idle mode, receiving a first user command to deliver a PFA sequence and toggling the pump to active mode. The first PFA sequence is delivered after a pre-defined ramp-up delay, and a timer is preset to be ON for a defined working duration. A second user command to delivery a PFA sequence is received and delivered with no imposed delay while the timer is ON. The timer is reset based on the second user command. The pump is toggled to idle mode after the defined working duration lapses.