Remote Medical Device Contact Stability via Real-Time Location Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Remote medical navigation systems face challenges in accurately determining and enhancing contact stability between medical devices and anatomical structures, such as cardiac walls, during procedures, which affects the precision and effectiveness of treatments like intracardiac Radio-Frequency ablation.
Innovation Solution
The use of real-time location data analysis, including positional and orientational covariance, oscillation amplitude, frequency analysis, and perturbation methods, to estimate and improve contact stability with anatomical structures, allowing for enhanced control of medical devices through systems like magnetic navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If remote navigation systems are used to navigate medical devices through the body, then navigation speed and ease of operation are improved, but the ability to accurately determine and enhance contact stability with anatomical structures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring real-time location data of the medical device and comparing it against expected contact patterns. The feedback algorithm analyzes location variations during cyclic motion (cardiac/respiratory cycles) to determine whether stable contact exists, providing continuous feedback to the operator about contact stability without requiring manual assessment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical assessment of contact stability with an automated computational system. Instead of relying on operator interpretation of device position and manual evaluation of contact quality, the system uses computer algorithms to automatically analyze location data patterns, detect contact stability, and provide objective measurements, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining ease of operation
2Measurement precision
If real-time location monitoring is implemented to assess contact stability, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential features needed for contact stability assessment from the full set of available data. Instead of analyzing all possible parameters, the system focuses specifically on location variations during cyclic motion patterns, extracting the critical signal (contact-induced location consistency) from the broader data stream. This selective extraction maintains measurement precision while reducing computational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary gating of location data based on detected cyclic motion patterns before conducting the actual contact stability analysis. By pre-organizing the data according to cardiac or respiratory cycles and identifying relevant time windows, the system simplifies the subsequent analysis step, reducing computational burden while maintaining the ability to detect contact stability with high precision
3Stability of the object's composition
If the medical device uses a soft shaft to maintain contact with cardiac walls, then contact stability is improved, but the device becomes more susceptible to deformation and positioning accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the interpretation parameter from absolute device position to relative position consistency during cyclic motion. Instead of demanding high absolute positioning accuracy for a soft catheter (which deforms), the system measures whether the device maintains consistent relative positioning with respect to the anatomical structure throughout the cardiac or respiratory cycle. This parameter transformation allows soft catheters to achieve contact stability without requiring rigid positioning precision
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
These methods enable improved contact assessment and stability, leading to more precise and effective navigation and treatment outcomes by ensuring consistent device interaction with cardiac structures, thereby enhancing the success of medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
the distal end of a compatible device in a selected direction through the application of a magnetic field from one or more external source magnets
Implementation Method 2
through the application of a magnetic field from one or more external source magnets, and selectively advance the medical device in the selected direction
Data Source
AI summary
A method of determining the quality of contact between a remotely navigated medical device and a cyclically moving anatomical structure includes measuring movement of the device, and processing the measured movement of the device to determine the contact between the device and the moving anatomical structure.