Wireless Ablation Catheter with Balloon Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for providing energy to implant devices, such as those used for pulmonary vein isolation, face challenges in efficiently transferring energy due to energy absorption in body tissue and alignment issues, leading to inefficiencies and potential skin burns.
Innovation Solution
A wireless ablation system featuring a catheter with an emitter coil and a guidewire or guiding tip to position the emitter coil near the implant device, along with balloons for alignment and thermal insulation, which limits tissue absorption and maintains heat at the ablation region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If external coil energy emission is increased to achieve sufficient ablation temperature, then ablation effectiveness is improved, but skin burns occur due to Eddy currents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary coupling mechanism (magnetic coupling through tissue) between the external coil and implant coil, allowing energy transfer without direct skin contact with high electromagnetic fields. This mediator approach enables sufficient energy delivery to the ablation site while preventing harmful Eddy currents in the skin.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested configuration where the implant coil is positioned within the vessel, surrounded by the vessel wall, and the external coil is positioned outside the body. This nested arrangement allows focused energy delivery to the target site while protecting surrounding tissues from harmful effects.
2Loss of energy
If external coil to implant device alignment is improved to reduce energy loss, then energy transfer efficiency is improved, but system complexity and positioning difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes resonant coupling between the external coil and implant coil at specific frequencies, creating a resonant oscillation that enhances energy transfer efficiency. This resonant mechanism compensates for misalignment issues and reduces the need for precise positioning while maximizing energy delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs adjustable parameters including frequency tuning and coil geometry optimization to maximize coupling efficiency. By varying these parameters, the system can achieve optimal energy transfer without requiring perfect alignment, thereby reducing system complexity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If implant device coil size is increased to improve energy pickup, then energy transfer efficiency is improved, but device size and invasiveness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite coil structures combining materials with different magnetic properties to enhance inductance and coupling efficiency within a compact form factor. This allows improved energy pickup without proportionally increasing device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent concentrates the coil windings and magnetic material specifically at the ablation site region of the implant device, creating local quality enhancement where it is most needed for energy pickup, while keeping other portions of the device minimal in size.
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 configuration enhances energy transfer efficiency by minimizing tissue absorption and maintaining heat at the ablation site, preventing heat loss through convection and reducing the risk of skin burns.
Implementation Method 1
an emitter coil at or near the distal end... adapted for producing time-varying magnetic fields
Implementation Method 2
The emitted energy which is coupled into the pick-up coil of the implant device is converted by Joule heating into heat to ablate the vessel's wall
Implementation Method 3
the balloons are adapted to thermally insulate the ablation region from blood in the vein upon inflation
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention concerns a system for wireless ablation of a pulmonary vein comprising an implant device provided with a pick-up coil and an ablation region, whereby the ablation region of the implant device is adapted for surface contact with the pulmonary vein and for subtending at least a substantially complete circumferential band for ablating a signal-blocking path within the pulmonary vein upon heating of the ablation region; a catheter comprising a longitudinal shaft with a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal body in between,whereby the catheter comprises a longitudinal axis along the longitudinal shaft, and whereby the catheter further comprises an emitter coil at or near the distal end, and whereby the longitudinal body of the catheter further comprises a wiring lumen comprising electrical wiring extending from the distal end to the proximal end, and whereby the electrical wiring is connected at or near the distal end with the emitter coil,and an electric power source which can be connected to the wiring via the proximal end of the catheter shaft for the generation of a time-varying magnetic field with the emitter coil.