Position-Controlled Thermocouple for Ablation Catheter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ablation catheters face challenges in accurately monitoring temperature at multiple locations during medical procedures, leading to potential overheating and uncontrolled tissue destruction, as existing temperature sensing technologies have limitations in response time and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A thermocouple assembly with multiple temperature sensors positioned by a positioner that displaces sensors from the longitudinal axis of the catheter, ensuring contact with the outer surface of the electrode and creating air gaps to improve thermal isolation and response time, allowing for more accurate temperature measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple temperature sensors are positioned close to the electrode surface, then temperature measurement accuracy is improved, but the sensors are exposed to irrigation fluid which degrades measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: an irrigation cavity that delivers cooling fluid through holes, and a sensor positioning structure that places temperature sensors in air gaps away from the irrigation fluid path. This segmentation allows the sensors to measure tissue temperature accurately without being contaminated or cooled by the irrigation fluid, resolving the contradiction between needing close proximity to the electrode for accurate measurement and needing isolation from irrigation fluid interference.
2Temperature
If temperature sensors are placed in contact with irrigation fluid, then cooling effect is enhanced, but temperature sensing accuracy deteriorates due to fluid interference
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the catheter are given different thermal properties and functions: the irrigation cavity and holes provide active cooling to the electrode through fluid flow, while the sensor region creates air gaps that thermally isolate the temperature sensors from the irrigation fluid. This local differentiation allows the system to simultaneously achieve effective cooling of the electrode and accurate temperature sensing by the sensors, resolving the contradiction between enhancing cooling effect and maintaining sensing accuracy.
3Reliability
If thermocouple junctions are positioned away from the longitudinal axis, then thermal isolation from irrigation fluid is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensors and their positioning structure are nested within the longitudinal bore of the electrode. The positioner is disposed inside the bore, and the thermocouple junctions are positioned on the positioner away from the longitudinal axis. This nested arrangement achieves thermal isolation of the sensors from irrigation fluid while containing the entire sensor assembly within the existing electrode structure, minimizing additional complexity and maintaining a compact design.
4Measurement precision
If multiple temperature sensors are used at multiple locations, then temperature monitoring coverage is improved, but response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple temperature sensors are arranged in different angular positions around the longitudinal axis of the electrode, creating a three-dimensional temperature monitoring network. The positioner displaces each sensor from the axis at different angular locations, allowing simultaneous measurement of temperature at multiple spatial locations. This multi-dimensional arrangement provides comprehensive temperature coverage of the treatment zone while maintaining short response times through direct thermal coupling with the tissue, resolving the contradiction between monitoring coverage and response time.
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 solution provides enhanced temperature sensing accuracy and response time, reducing the risk of overheating and improving the precision of ablation procedures by isolating sensors from irrigation fluid and positioning them for optimal thermal communication with the tissue.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of temperature sensors formed by thermocouple junctions
Implementation Method 2
creating air gaps to improve thermal isolation and response time
Implementation Method 3
positioning them for optimal thermal communication with the tissue
Data Source
AI summary
A thermocouple assembly may feature a plurality of temperature sensors formed by thermocouple junctions. The sensors may be disposed upon a positioner, that has a configuration that displaces each of the plurality of temperature sensors from a longitudinal axis of the positioner.