Radial Electrode Catheter for Monophasic Action Potential Mapping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Atrial fibrillation leads to irregular heartbeats and sub-optimal blood pumping due to disorganized electrical conduction in the heart, necessitating effective methods for mapping and treating electrical tissue disorders.
Innovation Solution
A catheter with a flexible body and distal assembly featuring multiple monophasic action potential recording electrodes and a reference electrode, positioned for radial symmetry and improved tissue contact, facilitating accurate signal capture and potential ablation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple recording electrodes are positioned radially symmetrically around the longitudinal axis, then signal fidelity is improved through better tissue contact, but device complexity increases due to additional electrodes and wiring
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple independent recording electrodes positioned radially around the longitudinal axis. Each electrode can independently contact tissue and record signals, allowing the system to capture electrical activity from multiple angles simultaneously. This segmentation improves signal fidelity by ensuring at least one electrode maintains good tissue contact while managing complexity through modular electrode design.
Solution Approach 2:
The recording electrodes are arranged in a radial configuration around the longitudinal axis, transitioning from a single-point contact to a three-dimensional radial array. This spatial distribution in multiple dimensions increases the probability of effective tissue contact and signal capture, improving measurement precision while the symmetric arrangement provides structural organization to manage device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the catheter uses a flexible body with distal assembly, then adaptability to cardiac anatomy is improved, but manufacturing precision becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter employs a flexible body rather than a rigid structure, allowing it to dynamically adapt to the complex three-dimensional geometry of cardiac anatomy. The flexibility enables the catheter to conform to varying anatomical landmarks and tissue surfaces, improving adaptability. The distal assembly with radially positioned electrodes maintains precise spatial relationships through flexible construction that accommodates anatomical variability.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter utilizes a flexible body construction that can bend and conform to the irregular surfaces of cardiac tissue. This flexible shell approach allows the catheter to adapt to different anatomical configurations while the embedded electrode array maintains its radial geometry for consistent signal recording, balancing adaptability with manufacturing precision.
3Measurement precision
If the reference electrode is positioned at a longitudinal distance from the recording geometry, then reference potential stability is improved, but device length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reference electrode function is separated from the recording electrode array by positioning it at a longitudinal distance away. This extraction of the reference potential measurement point from the active recording geometry allows for a more stable reference that is less influenced by local tissue electrical activity, improving measurement precision while accepting the necessary increase in device length.
Data Source
AI summary
Catheters and methods for obtaining monophasic action potential (“MAP”) electrograms include a flexible catheter body defining a longitudinal axis, and a distal assembly affixed to the catheter body distal end defining a distal tip. The distal assembly has at least three MAP recording electrodes, and at least one reference electrode for determining reference potential. The recording electrodes are each positioned a radial distance from the longitudinal axis in at least three different radial directions, defining a recording geometry substantially having radial symmetry. The reference electrode is a longitudinal distance from the recording geometry. Optional features include a steerable catheter shaft, one or more radio-frequency ablation electrodes, and a dedicated pacing electrode. Different possible embodiments include a dome housing having the recording electrodes in a fixed spatial arrangement, and a distal loop assembly having an array of electrodes on at least three flexible loop elements.