Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors for Millimetric-Scale Temperature Monitoring of Cardiac Tissue Undergoing Radiofrequency Ablation: A Feasibility Assessment.

Martina Zaltieri,Carlo Massaroni,Greta Allegretti,Emiliano Schena,Filippo Maria Cauti

doi:10.3390/s20226490

Martina Zaltieri, Carlo Massaroni + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/s20226490

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Abstract

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is the most widely used technique for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. A variety of factors, such as the electrode tip shape, the force exerted on the tissue by the catheter and the delivered power, combine to determine the temperature distribution, and as consequence, the lesion shape and size. In this context, being able to know the temperature reached in the myocardium during the RFA can be helpful for predicting the lesion dimensions to prevent the occurrence of undesired tissue damage. The catheters used so far in such procedures provide single-point temperature measurements within the probe (by means of embedded thermocouples or thermistors), so no information regarding the temperature changes occurring in myocardial tissues can be retrieved. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of fiber Bragg grating sensors (FBGs) to perform multi-point and millimetric-scale temperature measurements within myocardium subjected to RFA. The assessment has been performed on ex vivo porcine myocardium specimens undergoing RFA. Data show the feasibility of the proposed solution in providing spatial temperature distribution within the myocardial tissue during the entire RFA. These high-resolved measurements may allow reconstructing the temperature distribution in the tissue. This study lays the foundations for the implementation of 3D thermal maps to investigate how the supplied power, treatment time, force of contact and irrigation flow of the catheter influence the thermal effects within the tissue.

Highlights

Cardiac arrhythmias represent a relevant epidemiological problem which implies serious cardiovascular complications, and as consequence, important healthcare expenses [1].Among other minimally invasive thermal treatments (MITT), antenna-mediated radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has prevailed as leading process to treat such diseases [2,3]
The electrode tip shape, the force exerted on the myocardium by the catheter, the tip irrigation and the delivered power are the main factors that combine in determining the temperature distribution within the treated tissue, and as consequence, the lesion shape and size [9,10,11]
The temperature trends in time recorded by the 7 fiber Bragg grating sensors (FBGs) belonging to Array 1 and 2 during the RFA

Summary

Introduction

Among other minimally invasive thermal treatments (MITT), antenna-mediated radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has prevailed as leading process to treat such diseases [2,3]. The electrode tip shape, the force exerted on the myocardium by the catheter, the tip irrigation and the delivered power are the main factors that combine in determining the temperature distribution within the treated tissue, and as consequence, the lesion shape and size [9,10,11]. Since the tissue heating is significantly related to the success or the failing of RFA treatments, being able to reconstruct the spatial and temporal evolution of the temperatures reached within the tissue can be crucial to ensure a successful outcome and may help to predict the dimensions of the thermally damaged areas

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