Steerable Ablation Catheter for Curvilinear Epicardial Lesions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional atrial fibrillation ablation techniques face challenges in creating complete lesion patterns due to inconsistent tissue contact and anatomical barriers, leading to incomplete lesions and procedural complications, particularly in endocardial and epicardial approaches.
Innovation Solution
A steerable medical ablation device with a shaft having distinct sections for bidirectional steering and flexible properties, combined with navigation elements for precise tissue access and ablation, utilizing electroanatomic mapping systems for enhanced control and visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If endocardial coagulation is used to treat atrial fibrillation, then the procedure can be performed through intravenous catheters, but the physician cannot easily visualize the ablation site and complete linear lesion lines are difficult to create
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional endocardial approach by performing ablation from the epicardial surface instead. This allows direct visualization of the ablation site while maintaining percutaneous access, resolving the contradiction between ease of access and visualization precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an epicardial access sheath as an intermediary device that provides both percutaneous access and a stable platform for visualization and ablation. The sheath acts as a mediator between the catheter and the target tissue, enabling both easy access and precise visualization
2Reliability
If epicardial coagulation is used to create comprehensive biatrial lesion patterns, then more complete lesion coverage is achieved, but procedural complexity and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation catheter is designed with multi-functionality, integrating navigation, ablation, and visualization capabilities into a single device. This universal design allows comprehensive lesion patterns to be created without requiring multiple separate devices or complex procedural steps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates real-time feedback mechanisms through electroanatomic mapping and imaging systems that guide catheter positioning and ablation delivery. This feedback loop simplifies the procedure by providing continuous guidance, reducing the complexity of creating comprehensive lesion patterns
3Device complexity
If conventional ablation catheters are used, then the procedure is simpler, but inconsistent tissue contact causes variability in energy transmission and incomplete lesions
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates dynamic elements including articulation joints and flexible sections that allow the catheter to adapt to the contours of the heart surface. This dynamic capability ensures consistent tissue contact across varying anatomical surfaces while maintaining relative structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter utilizes flexible materials and thin-film construction in its shaft and tip sections, allowing conformal contact with the cardiac surface. This flexibility ensures uniform energy transmission without requiring complex mechanical structures
4Object-affected harmful factors
If percutaneous access is used to reach cardiac tissue, then minimally invasive procedure is achieved, but access to certain tissue regions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a steerable catheter with multi-planar articulation that adds dimensional flexibility to the access approach. The catheter can navigate complex three-dimensional pathways to reach tissue regions that would be inaccessible through simple linear percutaneous access, while maintaining the minimally invasive benefit
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 the creation of comprehensive, curvilinear lesions with reduced procedural complexity and risk, allowing for precise treatment of cardiac and non-cardiac tissues through minimally invasive procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a physician creates a lesion using energy (including but not limited to cryogenic, radiofrequency, D.C., microwave, laser, electroporation, high-frequency ultrasound or other thermal modalities)
Implementation Method 2
Atrial fibrillation surgery requires creation of an ablation or coagulation lesion in atrial tissue
Implementation Method 3
a steering member coupled between the actuator and the distal section of the shaft, such that movement of the actuator controls a deflection of the distal section
Implementation Method 4
the proximal section of the shaft is flexible and limited to bend in a second plane, where the second plane is perpendicular to the first plane
Implementation Method 5
identifying the devices using virtualization software
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods for therapeutically treating tissue. The devices and methods are suitable for minimally invasive surgery or open surgical procedures. More particularly, methods and devices described herein permit accessing and/or treating areas of tissue with a therapeutic device.