Steerable Basket Catheter Expander for Atrial Tissue Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional basket catheters lack sufficient maneuverability and stability for effective tissue contact in the heart's atria, particularly in cavernous regions, due to their non-steerable basket assemblies, which limits their ability to detect and record electrical functions accurately.
Innovation Solution
A steerable elongated expander with puller wires anchored distally, allowing for adjustable and stable placement of a basket-shaped electrode array with multiple electrodes, enabling better contact with atrial tissue and maintaining contact during heart contractions and relaxations, and providing simultaneous views of electrical functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional basket catheter with a non-steerable basket assembly is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the maneuverability and stability for tissue contact are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The basket assembly is transformed from a static, non-steerable structure to a dynamic, steerable one by incorporating puller wires that can be actuated to deflect the basket. This allows the basket to adapt its orientation and position in response to control inputs, significantly improving maneuverability while maintaining structural integrity through a controlled actuation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is divided into distinct functional segments: a steerable basket assembly with puller wires for maneuverability, a shaft for support and transmission, and a control mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently—the basket for steering response, the shaft for structural support, and the control system for precision—resolving the contradiction between complexity and operability.
2Reliability
If the basket assembly is made steerable with puller wires, then maneuverability and tissue contact stability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The puller wire mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of the basket's orientation and position, allowing the electrodes to maintain stable contact with the tissue surface despite cardiac motion. The wires can be tensioned or relaxed to compensate for tissue displacement, ensuring reliable electrical contact throughout the cardiac cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The puller wires act as intermediary elements between the control mechanism and the basket assembly, transmitting mechanical forces to achieve precise positioning and stabilization. This intermediary mechanism allows for fine-tuned control of basket orientation without requiring direct manipulation of the basket itself, improving reliability while managing complexity through a dedicated transmission system.
3Strength
If the expander is made sturdy to support the electrode assembly, then the electrodes can maintain contact with atrial tissue, but the deflectability of the expander is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The expander exhibits local quality variations: it is constructed to be sturdy and rigid in the regions where it must support the electrode assembly and maintain its structural integrity, while incorporating deflectable sections or zones where controlled bending is required for navigation and positioning. This localized differentiation of mechanical properties allows the expander to simultaneously provide necessary support strength and adaptability for steering.
Solution Approach 2:
The expander is segmented into rigid support sections and flexible deflectable sections. The rigid portions provide structural support for the electrode array, while the flexible portions allow the expander to bend and conform to vascular anatomy during insertion and positioning. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by assigning different mechanical functions to different parts of the same component.
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter adapted for mapping and/or ablation in the atria has a basket-shaped electrode array with two or more location sensors with a deflectable expander. The catheter comprises a catheter body, a basket electrode assembly at a distal end of the catheter body, and a control handle at a proximal end of the catheter body. The basket electrode assembly has a plurality of electrode-carrying spines and an expander that is adapted for longitudinal movement relative to the catheter body for expanding and collapsing the assembly via a proximal end portion extending past the control handle that can be pushed or pulled by a user. The expander is also adapted for deflection in responsive to an actuator on the control handle that allows a user to control at least one puller wire extending through the catheter body and the expander.