Stacked Electrode Catheter Mapping for Targeted Fibrillation Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ablation techniques for cardiac fibrillation have low success rates due to the complexity of identifying the underlying electrical activities, leading to inefficient and potentially harmful treatments, and existing catheters lack adequate spatial resolution and electrode-tissue contact detection, complicating data acquisition during arrhythmias.
Innovation Solution
A catheter system with an array of stacked electrode pairs, configured orthogonally to the cardiac tissue surface, uses electrogram analysis to determine electrode-tissue contact and optimize ablation lesion placement based on patient-specific mapping of electrical circuit cores.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If generalized ablation strategies are applied based on basic research principles, then the treatment process is simplified, but the success rate decreases to around 70% due to inability to account for individual patient variability
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from generalized ablation strategies to patient-specific localized strategies by mapping individual electrical circuit cores and rotor locations. The ablation therapy is then targeted to specific regions identified through electrogram analysis, creating localized treatment plans that account for individual anatomical and electrophysiological variations, thereby improving success rates while maintaining procedural manageability
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates real-time feedback through electrogram analysis during the ablation procedure. The mapping system continuously monitors electrical activity, identifies circuit cores and rotors, and provides guidance for adjusting ablation therapy in response to individual patient responses, enabling adaptive treatment strategies that maximize effectiveness
2Reliability
If ablation lesions are created to interrupt electrical circuits, then fibrillation treatment effectiveness improves, but complications increase including steam pops, cardiac perforation, and formation of new abnormal electrical circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex ablation procedure into targeted interventions based on identified circuit cores and rotors. By localizing ablation therapy to specific regions rather than applying widespread lesions, the system reduces the overall burden on cardiac tissue, minimizing complications such as steam pops and perforation while maintaining effectiveness in interrupting electrical circuits
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces traditional mechanical/electrical ablation approaches with a mapping-guided strategy that uses electrogram analysis to identify precise target locations. This substitution allows for more controlled and precise ablation therapy, reducing the likelihood of creating new abnormal electrical circuits and other complications while maintaining treatment effectiveness
3Device complexity
If existing catheters with large electrodes are used, then the device structure is simplified, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to accurately determine electrode contact and orientation during arrhythmias
Solution Approach 1:
The system adds a new dimension to catheter design by incorporating multiple electrodes arranged in specific patterns, enabling simultaneous measurement of contact force and orientation. This multi-dimensional approach allows the catheter to detect both whether it is contacting tissue and at what angle, improving measurement precision without significantly increasing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary measurement approach using electrogram analysis as a mediator between the catheter and the tissue. By analyzing the electrical signals recorded during arrhythmias, the system can infer contact status and orientation information, providing precise measurements while keeping the catheter structure relatively simple
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
Enhances the success rate of ablation treatments by providing accurate, patient-specific strategies for minimizing cardiac fibrillation, reducing the amount of ablation required and minimizing complications.
Implementation Method 1
each first electrode is in contact with the surface to record a first signal, and wherein each second electrode is separated from the first electrode by a distance which enables the second electrode to record a second signal
Implementation Method 2
the catheter is configured to obtain one or more measurements from at least a first signal and a second signal in response to electrical activity in the cardiac tissue substrate indicative of a number of electrical circuit cores and distribution of the electrical circuit cores
Data Source
AI summary
Catheters, systems, and related methods for optimized for mapping, minimizing, and treating cardiac fibrillation in a patient, including an array of at least one stacked electrode pair, each electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein each electrode pair is configured to be orthogonal to a surface of a cardiac tissue substrate, wherein each first electrode is in contact with the surface to record a first signal, and wherein each second electrode is separated from the first electrode by a distance which enables the second electrode to record a second signal, wherein the catheter is configured to obtain one or more measurements from at least a first signal and a second signal in response to electrical activity in the cardiac tissue substrate indicative of a number of electrical circuit cores and distribution of the electrical circuit cores for a duration across the cardiac tissue substrate.