Multi-Pole Pulmonary Artery Ablation Catheter With Intima Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current clinical treatments for pulmonary hypertension are limited in efficacy and often have significant side effects, high costs, and unreliable outcomes, particularly for secondary pulmonary hypertension associated with conditions like pulmonary interstitial fibrosis and left heart disorders.

Innovation Solution

A multi-pole synchronous pulmonary artery radiofrequency ablation catheter designed for de-sympathetic treatment, which includes a flexible tip with adjustable electrodes for precise ablation and cold saline perfusion to protect vascular intima, combined with a control handle and shape memory wire for curvature control, allowing for targeted sympathetic nerve disruption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If radiofrequency ablation is applied to treat pulmonary hypertension, then sympathetic nerve blocking efficacy is improved, but risk of vascular intima damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesympathetic nerve blocking efficacyVSAvoidvascular intima damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Cold saline is introduced as an intermediary protective layer between the radiofrequency electrode and the vascular intima. The saline absorbs excess heat and protects the intima from thermal damage while allowing effective sympathetic nerve ablation to occur

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Cold saline perfusion is applied before and during the radiofrequency ablation process to preemptively counteract the thermal damage that would otherwise occur to the vascular intima, preventing harm before it can manifest

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If radiofrequency ablation is applied to treat pulmonary hypertension, then treatment efficacy is improved, but blood heating increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidblood heating
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

Cold saline serves as a heat sink and intermediary medium that absorbs thermal energy from the radiofrequency electrode, preventing direct heating of blood while allowing effective tissue ablation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Fluid dynamics of cold saline perfusion is utilized to continuously flush and cool the ablation site, managing thermal energy through fluid flow rather than direct thermal contact

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Manufacturing precision

If multi-pole synchronous ablation is applied, then ablation precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveablation precisionVSAvoidcatheter structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is divided into multiple independent electrode poles, each capable of targeted ablation. This segmentation allows precise control over which neural structures are ablated while maintaining a manageable catheter design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter incorporates flexible and adjustable components including shape memory wires and pull wires that allow dynamic positioning and configuration of the electrode array to match vascular anatomy, simplifying deployment while maintaining precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 provides effective pulmonary hypertension treatment by reducing pulmonary artery pressure through sympathetic nerve blocking, with advantages of simple operation, precise ablation, and minimal blood heating, while ensuring vascular integrity.

Implementation Method 1

radiofrequency ablation catheter...heats the adherent tissue rather than the blood

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResistive heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

the catheter can be configured to provide cold saline perfusion at or near the ablation site to protect the vascular intima

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4014908B1Multi-pole synchronous pulmonary artery radiofrequency ablation
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 PULNOVO MEDICAL INC
  • EP4014908B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4014908B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP4014908B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A multi-pole synchronous pulmonary artery radiofrequency ablation catheter, wherein an adjustment apparatus is arranged on a control handle; a catheter body is hollow, and a cavity is arranged therein; a lead wire, a temperature sensing wire and a pull wire are arranged in the cavity; one end of the catheter body is flexible, and the flexible end is connected to an annular ring; the other end of the catheter body is connected to the control handle; one end of the pull wire is connected to the flexible end, and the other end of the pull wire is connected to the adjustment apparatus on the control handle, the tension of the pull wire is adjusted through the adjustment apparatus to achieve radian control of the flexible end; a shape memory wire is arranged in the annular ring, one end of the shape memory wire extends to the end of the annular ring and the other end of the shape memory wire passes through the root of the annular ring and is fixed on the flexible end of the catheter body; the annular ring is provided with an electrode group with each electrode connected to the lead wire and temperature sensing wire; the lead wire and temperature sensing wire go through the catheter body and are electrically connected to the control handle. The device uses cold saline perfusion method to protect the vascular intima and possesses advantages of simple operation, short operation time and controllable precise ablation. The device can be used to treat pulmonary hypertension with pulmonary denervation.