Pressure Relief Valve for RF Balloon Catheter Deflation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheter systems for cardiac ablation procedures face challenges in efficiently deflating the balloon after a procedure, leading to potential complications due to fluid pressure spikes, which can hinder the removal of the catheter and end effector from the patient.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pressure relief mechanism, such as a resilient o-ring or spring-loaded valve, in the tip assembly of the catheter's end effector to transition from a sealing state to a pressure-relieving state when fluid pressure exceeds a certain threshold, allowing for safe drainage of the balloon and facilitating its deflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the balloon is inflated with fluid to perform ablation, then the ablation function is achieved, but fluid pressure spikes occur during deflation that hinder catheter removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful high-pressure fluid from the balloon by providing a dedicated relief valve that allows controlled leakage of inflation fluid during deflation. This separates the inflation function (needed for ablation) from the deflation function (needed for removal), allowing the harmful pressure to be removed through a specific pathway rather than forcing deflation through the same sealed system used for inflation.
Solution Approach 2:
The relief valve acts as an intermediary component between the balloon interior and exterior, mediating the pressure release during deflation. It provides a controlled interface that allows fluid to escape at regulated rates, preventing the harmful pressure spikes that would otherwise occur during rapid deflation and catheter removal.
2Loss of time
If the balloon is deflated rapidly to facilitate removal, then removal time is reduced, but fluid pressure spikes cause complications
Solution Approach 1:
The relief valve enables continuous, controlled fluid leakage throughout the deflation process, maintaining a steady pressure release rather than allowing pressure to build up and then release abruptly. This continuous pressure management eliminates the harmful spikes while still achieving rapid deflation for quick catheter removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The relief valve is pre-configured to activate during deflation, providing beforehand protection against pressure spikes. By having the pressure relief mechanism in place before deflation begins, the system prevents harmful pressure builds-up rather than reacting to it after it occurs, enabling safe and rapid deflation.
3Manufacturing precision
If the tip assembly is sealed to prevent fluid leakage during ablation, then ablation precision is improved, but pressure builds up during deflation
Solution Approach 1:
The tip assembly is segmented into separate functional zones: a sealed ablation zone for precise energy delivery and a separate pressure relief zone with the relief valve for controlled fluid release. This segmentation allows the ablation function to maintain its precision through sealing while the pressure management function operates independently through the relief valve mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the tip assembly have different sealing properties: the ablation interface maintains high sealing quality for precision, while the relief valve area has controlled permeability for pressure management. This local differentiation of quality allows simultaneous achievement of ablation precision and pressure relief during deflation.
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 pressure relief mechanism effectively manages fluid pressure spikes, ensuring smooth deflation of the balloon and easy removal of the catheter, reducing the risk of complications and improving procedural efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating a pressure relief mechanism, such as a resilient o-ring or spring-loaded valve
Implementation Method 2
Incorporating a pressure relief mechanism, such as a resilient o-ring or spring-loaded valve
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a catheter shaft assembly and an end effector positioned at a distal end of the catheter shaft assembly. The end effector includes a balloon, one or more electrodes on the balloon, and a tip assembly at a distal end of the balloon. The balloon defines an interior configured to receive a fluid to inflate the balloon. The balloon is sized and configured to fit within a cardiovascular anatomical structure. The tip assembly includes a pressure relief valve that is configured to transition between a sealing state and a pressure-relieving state. In the sealing state, the pressure relief valve is configured to prevent fluid from leaking out from the interior of the balloon via the pressure relief valve. In the pressure-relieving state, the pressure relief valve is configured to provide a path for fluid to leak from the interior of the balloon via the pressure relief valve.