Enhanced Flexible Circuit for Cardiac Ablation and Mapping

An improved flexible circuit for use with a catheter tip, featuring advanced thermal management and real-time sensing capabilities to enhance the safety and efficacy of cardiac ablation and mapping procedures.

The original patent disclosed a flexible circuit for a split-tip catheter, but it had limitations in terms of thermal management and real-time sensing during cardiac ablation and mapping procedures. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by incorporating advanced thermal management and real-time sensing capabilities, enabling more precise and safe procedures.

The enhanced flexible circuit comprises a first segment with a base section, a second segment with a lateral wall section, and a transition section between the base section and lateral wall sections. The transition section incorporates a thermal diffuser or thermoelectric cooler to facilitate heat dissipation during ablative procedures. Additionally, the flexible circuit includes a sensor array to monitor tissue temperature and adjust ablative energy delivery in real-time. This enables the catheter to dynamically adjust the energy delivery based on real-time feedback, ensuring a more precise and safe procedure.

The new claims introduce the concept of advanced thermal management and real-time sensing capabilities in the flexible circuit, which is not present in the original patent. The incorporation of thermal diffusers, thermoelectric coolers, and sensor arrays provides a significant improvement over the original patent, enabling more precise and safe cardiac ablation and mapping procedures.

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include different thermal management strategies, such as using heat pipes or phase-change materials. Additionally, the sensor array could be replaced with other types of sensors, such as impedance sensors or optical sensors, to provide real-time feedback during procedures.

The enhanced flexible circuit has significant commercial potential in the cardiac ablation and mapping market, which is projected to grow significantly in the coming years. The inventive concept could be used in a variety of applications, including electrophysiology catheters, cardiac ablation systems, and cardiac mapping systems, providing a competitive advantage to companies operating in this market.