Shaped Ablation for Migrating Heart Rhythm Sources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating complex heart rhythm disorders, such as atrial fibrillation and ventricular fibrillation, are ineffective due to the inability to precisely identify and locate the sources of these disorders, leading to inadequate ablation therapy that often damages healthy tissue and has low success rates with significant complications.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that processes cardiac signals to determine the shape and migration pattern of the source of the rhythm disorder, allowing for selective modification of the affected tissue to terminate or alter the disorder using shaped ablation therapy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If single point ablation or contiguous ablation lines are used to treat complex heart rhythm disorders, then the treatment can be applied using existing ablation techniques, but the treatment is ineffective because it cannot precisely identify and locate the migrating sources of the disorders, leading to damage to healthy tissue and low success rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from static ablation points to dynamic tracking of migrating rhythm disorder sources. The system continuously monitors cardiac signals and updates the location of the rhythm disorder source in real-time, allowing the ablation catheter to follow the migrating source rather than treating fixed locations. This dynamic approach enables precise targeting of the actual pathological tissue while avoiding damage to healthy tissue that would be affected by static ablation strategies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using continuous cardiac signal monitoring to detect the location and migration of rhythm disorder sources. The system processes cardiac signals to identify the source location, then uses this information to guide ablation therapy delivery. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that ablation energy is delivered precisely to the migrating source locations, improving treatment effectiveness while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
2Reliability
If ablation therapy is delivered to treat complex heart rhythm disorders without precise source identification, then the procedure can be performed with existing tools, but the success rate is low and complications are significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by integrating multiple functions into a single ablation system. The system combines cardiac signal monitoring, source localization algorithms, and ablation therapy delivery in one integrated platform. This multi-functional approach allows the system to perform both diagnostic (source identification) and therapeutic (ablation) functions, improving reliability while managing complexity through consolidation rather than separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a signal processing system that acts as a mediator between the cardiac signals and the ablation therapy. This intermediary system processes the raw cardiac signals to extract source location information, then translates this information into guidance for the ablation catheter. This intermediary layer bridges the gap between complex signal analysis and practical therapeutic application, managing system complexity while improving success rates.
3Ease of operation
If traditional ablation methods are used for complex rhythm disorders with varying activation patterns, then the treatment approach is simple to apply, but it fails to account for beat-to-beat variations in activation, reducing treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the ablation system adaptive to changing conditions. The system continuously monitors cardiac activation patterns and adjusts the identified source location based on beat-to-beat variations. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to track migrating sources that change position between beats, maintaining treatment effectiveness while preserving ease of operation through automated real-time adjustment rather than manual repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by detecting variations in cardiac signal parameters (activation timing, amplitude, morphology) from beat to beat. The system analyzes these parameter changes to identify and track the migrating source of the rhythm disorder. By monitoring how signal parameters change over time, the system adapts to varying activation patterns and maintains accurate source localization despite beat-to-beat variations, balancing adaptability with operational simplicity.
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
Enables precise identification and treatment of the source of complex heart rhythm disorders, minimizing damage to healthy tissue and improving treatment outcomes by tailoring ablation therapy to the specific shape and location of the disorder, potentially eliminating the disorder with minimal collateral damage.
Implementation Method 1
delivering energy to the cause(s) for the heart rhythm disorder to terminate it
Implementation Method 2
Ablation is a promising and increasingly used therapy to eliminate heart rhythm disorders
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method to target a biological rhythm disorder include processing cardiac signals via a computing device to determine a shape in a region of tissue defined by a source associated with the biological rhythm disorder that migrates spatially on or within the shape, and identifying at least one portion of the tissue proximate to the shape to enable selective modification of the at least one portion of tissue in order to terminate or alter the biological rhythm disorder.