Virtual Electrode Ablation Catheter with Variable Radius Curvature
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ablation catheters face challenges in maintaining uniform contact with cardiac tissue, especially on contoured surfaces, leading to inadequate lesion formation due to coagulum formation and the inability to create continuous linear lesions, which can result in incomplete ablation and persistence of arrhythmia.
Innovation Solution
A cardiac ablation catheter system featuring a virtual electrode section for energy transfer through a conductive fluid medium and a distal tip electrode, with a mechanism to form a curved section of variable length and radius, ensuring consistent contact and efficient energy delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional ablation catheters are used to apply electrical energy to myocardial tissue, then ablation lesions can be formed, but uniform contact with cardiac tissue cannot be maintained leading to inadequate lesion formation
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates a curved section with variable radius of curvature that can be dynamically adjusted during the procedure. This dynamic configuration allows the catheter to adapt to the contours of cardiac tissue, maintaining uniform contact across the ablation electrode surface and enabling reliable lesion formation throughout the entire electrode length.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the catheter by introducing a curved section with variable radius. This parameter change allows the catheter to conform to the three-dimensional topology of cardiac structures, ensuring consistent tissue contact and uniform energy delivery across the ablation electrode surface.
2Use of energy by moving object
If conventional ablation catheters are used on contoured tissue surfaces, then ablation can be performed, but coagulum formation occurs reducing energy transfer efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces direct mechanical contact between a solid electrode and tissue with a fluid-mediated energy transfer system. The virtual electrode uses conductive fluid to transfer RF energy to the tissue, which prevents coagulum formation on the electrode surface and maintains consistent energy delivery even on contoured surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
A conductive fluid acts as an intermediary between the virtual electrode and the cardiac tissue. This fluid medium transfers RF energy to the tissue while preventing direct contact between the electrode and tissue, thereby eliminating coagulum formation and ensuring efficient energy transfer.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional catheters are used to create linear lesions, then ablation can be performed, but continuous linear lesions cannot be achieved resulting in incomplete ablation
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter features a dynamically adjustable curved section that can be configured to match the specific anatomical topology of the target cardiac structure. This dynamic adaptability enables the ablation electrode to maintain continuous contact with the tissue surface, creating complete linear lesions without gaps that would compromise ablation effectiveness.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the distal end of the catheter is formed into a curve of fixed radius, then contact with specific tissue contours can be achieved, but adaptability to different tissue surfaces is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates a curved section with variable radius of curvature that can be dynamically adjusted during the procedure. This dynamic configuration allows the catheter to adapt to the contours of cardiac tissue, maintaining uniform contact across the ablation electrode surface and enabling reliable lesion formation throughout the entire electrode length.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the catheter by introducing a curved section with variable radius. This parameter change allows the catheter to conform to the three-dimensional topology of cardiac structures, ensuring consistent tissue contact and uniform energy delivery across the ablation electrode surface.
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
The system achieves high-quality, continuous linear lesions with reduced coagulum formation, improving the effectiveness of cardiac ablation procedures by maintaining uniform contact and energy delivery, even on complex tissue surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a virtual electrode structure positioned within a distal end section of the catheter shaft and configured to transfer energy to tissue through a conductive fluid medium
Implementation Method 2
a first rack and pinion mechanism interconnected between the distal end section and the control handle... a second rack and pinion mechanism interconnected between the distal end section and the control handle
Data Source
AI summary
A cardiac ablation catheter system incorporates several different, but complementary features. The catheter includes a virtual electrode section for transferring ablation energy to form a linear lesion in cardiac tissue. The distal tip of the catheter shaft is provided with a tip electrode to perform spot ablations. The distal end of the catheter, generally including the virtual electrode section, may be operably formed into a curve with a variable radius of curvature.