The capabilities of catheters used in the medical industry have been steadily evolving over recent decades but we are now seeing a giant leap forward with the emerging trend of new-generation Smart-Catheters.
Smart-Catheters provide more than just a one-way conduit by incorporating two-way feedback and control mechanisms, such as sending and receiving signals between the proximal and distal ends, which enables applications to use the distal-end information to perform additional functions that are guided in real-time by the two-way feedback loops or the ability to provide energy at the distal tip for selected ablation.
For example, using closed-loop impedance-sensing to sense, control and adjust a distal-end ablation procedure in real-time would constitute a Smart-Catheter. Another Smart-Catheter example would be the use of Nitinol Shape-Memory wire to enable precise control of unique distal-end shapes, using two-way signaling between the proximal and distal ends.
What is the key to Smart-Catheter creation? Using "Smart-Design" techniques.
Smart design uses a holistic approach that embeds new functionality directly into the catheter structure, such as advanced braiding methodologies that weave signals, power and even optics into the backbone braiding process. It's analogous to giving the catheter's spine an embedded nervous system.
It also involves creating a foundation of "platform design" methods that can be used as building blocks to to rapidly develop and deploy new Smart-Catheter applications. These building blocks include embedded technologies, such a flex circuits, optics, lasers, and sensors, as well as connectivity technologies, such as modular connectors for interfacing with distal-end and proximal-end functionality.
To get more detail, download the Tech Bulletin: "Creating Smart-Catheters Requires Smart Design".
