Transseptal Puncture Electrode Segmentation for Impedance Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transseptal puncture systems face challenges in accurately measuring impedance to determine the position of needle instruments relative to the septum, particularly in distinguishing between being within a lumen or in contact with blood, and in avoiding microbubble formation and noise interference.
Innovation Solution
A transseptal puncture system employing a guiding instrument with a first electrode for ablation and a second electrically insulated electrode for impedance measurement, where an impedance monitoring module determines the relative positions of the instruments during the puncture procedure based on impedance measurements at both electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single electrode is used for both ablation and impedance measurement, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to microbubble formation and noise interference
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode system is segmented into two distinct electrodes: a first electrode (e.g., ablation electrode at the distal tip) and a second electrode (e.g., proximal electrode). This segmentation allows the first electrode to perform ablation while the second electrode is dedicated to impedance measurement, eliminating interference from microbubble formation and tissue contact noise during measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The second electrode acts as an intermediary measurement point that is electrically insulated from the ablation process. By measuring impedance at this intermediate location rather than directly at the ablation interface, the system avoids noise from microbubble formation and tissue contact, achieving cleaner impedance signals.
2Ease of operation
If impedance measurement is performed at the ablation electrode, then contact detection is simplified, but reliability deteriorates due to noise from microbubble formation and tissue contact
Solution Approach 1:
The second electrode serves as an intermediary measurement point that provides reliable impedance data without being directly exposed to the noisy ablation environment. This intermediary measurement location maintains ease of contact detection while significantly improving signal reliability by avoiding microbubble interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The impedance measurement function is extracted from the ablation electrode and assigned to a separate second electrode. This extraction removes the measurement function from the noisy ablation environment, allowing reliable impedance monitoring without compromising ablation effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If a single electrode performs both ablation and measurement functions, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to distinguish lumen contact from blood contact
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode system is divided into multiple specialized electrodes with distinct measurement locations. This segmentation enables comparison of impedance values from different spatial positions, allowing the system to distinguish whether the needle is in contact with lumen walls or surrounded by blood, thereby improving position determination accuracy.
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
This approach enhances the accuracy of needle instrument positioning and contact detection with the septum, reducing noise interference and microbubble formation, thereby improving the precision of transseptal puncture procedures.
Implementation Method 1
measuring an impedance at a second electrode for determining a position of the needle instrument with respect to the septum
Implementation Method 2
Procedures for treating arrhythmia include surgically disrupting the conducting pathway for such signals. By selectively ablating cardiac tissue by application of electrical energy (e.g., radiofrequency (AC type) or irreversible electroporation (IRE), such as pulsed field (DC type) energy)
Data Source
AI summary
A transseptal puncture system and method uses a guiding instrument, and an atraumatic puncture instrument longitudinally movable therein, with a first electrode configured for ablation and a second electrode electrically insulated from the first electrode. An impedance monitoring module is configured to measure at least an impedance at the second electrode, and an electrical generator is configured to selectively apply electrical energy to the first electrode based at least in part on the measured impedance at the second electrode. Moreover, impedance measurements at the first and second electrodes are used to determine relative positions of the instruments in the approach, contact, ablation and puncture of the septum.