OESOPHAGEAL ELECTRODE PROBE AND DEVICE FOR CARDIOLOGICAL TREATMENT AND/OR DIAGNOSIS

Abstract

An oesophageal electrode probe for bioimpedance measurement and/or for neurostimulation is provided; a device for transoesophageal cardiological treatment and/or cardiological diagnosis is also provided; a method for the open-loop or closed-loop control of a cardiological catheter ablation device and/or a cardiological, circulatory and/or respiratory support device is also provided. The oesophageal electrode probe comprises a bioimpedance measuring device for measuring the bioimpedance of at least one part of tissue surrounding the oesophageal electrode probe. The bioimpedance device comprises at least one first and one second electrode. The at least one first electrode is arranged on a side of the oesophageal electrode probe facing towards the heart. The at least one second electrode is arranged on a side of the oesophageal electrode probe facing away from the heart. The device comprises the oesophageal electrode probe and a control and/or evaluation device.

Claims

1. An esophageal electrode probe comprising: a bioimpedance measuring device for measuring the bioimpedance of at least part of tissue surrounding the esophageal electrode probe, wherein the bioimpedance measuring device comprises at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode, wherein the at least one first electrode is arranged on a side of the esophageal electrode probe facing the heart, and wherein the at least one second electrode is arranged on a side of the esophageal electrode probe facing away from the heart.

2. The esophageal electrode probe according to claim 1, further comprising a neurostimulation device, wherein the neurostimulation device comprises at least one electrode for transesophageal neurostimulation of the at least part of the tissue surrounding the esophageal electrode probe by electric pulses with a frequency of 100 bpm to 3000 bpm and a strength of 5V to 100V and a duration of 3 seconds to 10 minutes, wherein the at least one electrode for neurostimulation is arranged on the side (16) of the esophageal electrode probe facing away from the heart.

3. The esophageal electrode probe according to claim 1, further comprising a cylindrical probe body and an inflatable catheter balloon attached to the probe body, wherein the electrodes of the bioimpedance measuring device and/or the neurostimulation device are arranged on the catheter balloon.

4. The esophageal electrode probe according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of: a stimulation device with at least one electrode for transesophageal cardiac stimulation; an electrography device with at least one electrode for electrography measurement; an echocardiography device with at least one ultrasound sensor for echocardiography measurement; a temperature measuring device with at least one temperature sensor; or a pH value measuring device with at least one pH value sensor for pH value measurement.

5. The esophageal electrode probe according to claim 1, wherein the esophageal electrode probe comprises an electrography device with at least one first and at least one second electrode for electrography measurement, wherein the at least one first electrode for electrography measurement is arranged on a side of the esophageal electrode probe facing the heart, and the at least one second electrode for electrography measurement is arranged on a side of the esophageal electrode probe facing away from the heart.

6. A device for transesophageal cardiological treatment and/or for transesophageal cardiological diagnosis, comprising: an esophageal electrode probe that includes a bioimpedance measuring device for measuring the bioimpedance of at least part of tissue surrounding the esophageal electrode probe, wherein the bioimpedance measuring device comprises at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode, wherein the at least one first electrode is arranged on a side of the esophageal electrode probe facing the heart, and wherein the at least one second electrode is arranged on a side of the esophageal electrode probe facing away from the heart; a control and/or evaluation device in signal connection with the bioimpedance measuring device, wherein the control and/or evaluation device is adapted to receive and compare a first bioimpedance measurement signal from the at least one first electrode and a second bioimpedance measurement signal from the at least one second electrode, and to generate a check signal on the basis of the comparison.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the esophageal electrode probe includes an electrography device with at least one first and at least one second electrode for electrography measurement, wherein the at least one first electrode for electrography measurement is arranged on a side of the esophageal electrode probe facing the heart, and the at least one second electrode for electrography measurement is arranged on a side of the esophageal electrode probe facing away from the heart, and wherein the control and/or evaluation device is adapted to receive and compare a first electrocardiography measurement signal from the at least one first electrode and a second electrocardiography measurement signal from the at least one second electrode of the electrography device, and to generate the check signal on the basis of the comparison.

8. The device according to claim 6, further comprising at least one of: an ablation device for performing a cardiac catheter ablation, wherein the ablation device is in signal connection with the control and/or evaluation device; or a cardiac, circulatory and/or respiratory support device for cardiosynchronous cardiac, circulatory and/or respiratory support, wherein the cardiac, circulatory and/or respiratory support device is in signal connection with the control and/or evaluation device.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the check signal: is a status signal indicating the status or value of at least one parameter of the cardiac catheter ablation and/or cardiac, circulatory and/or respiratory support; and/or is a warning signal indicating that at least one parameter of a cardiac catheter ablation and/or cardiac, circulatory and/or respiratory support is outside an admissible value range or is greater or smaller than a predetermined threshold value; and/or is a control signal for controlling or regulating an ablation device and/or a cardiac, circulatory and/or respiratory support device.

10. The device according to claim 6, wherein the check signal is a signal for terminating the cardiac catheter ablation and/or the cardiac, circulatory and/or respiratory support, and wherein the check signal is generated when the difference between the first bioimpedance measurement signal and the second bioimpedance measurement signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

11. The device according to claim 6, further comprising a display device in signal connection with the esophageal electrode probe, wherein the display device is adapted to display the first bioimpedance measurement signal and/or the second bioimpedance measurement signal and/or the check signal.

12. A method for controlling or regulating an ablation device for performing a cardiac catheter ablation and/or a cardiac, circulatory and/or respiratory support device for cardiosynchronous cardiac, circulatory and/or respiratory support, the method comprising: detecting a first bioimpedance measurement signal from at least one first electrode, wherein the at least one first electrode is arranged on a side of an esophageal electrode probe facing a heart; detecting a second bioimpedance measurement signal from at least one second electrode, wherein the at least one second electrode is arranged on a side of the esophageal electrode probe facing away from the heart; generating a control signal for controlling or regulating the ablation device and/or the cardiac, circulatory and/or lung support device on the basis of a comparison of the first bioimpedance measurement signal with the second bioimpedance measurement signal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: detecting a first electrocardiography measurement signal from at least one first electrode, wherein the at least one first electrode is arranged on the side of an esophageal electrode probe facing the heart; and detecting a second electrocardiography measurement signal from at least one second electrode, wherein the at least one second electrode is arranged on the side of the esophageal electrode probe facing away from the heart; wherein the control signal is further generated on the basis of a comparison of the first electrocardiography measurement signal with the second electrocardiography measurement signal.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the control signal is a signal for terminating a catheter ablation performed by the ablation device or a cardiac, circulatory and/or respiratory support, and wherein the control signal is generated when the difference between the first bioimpedance measurement signal and the second bioimpedance measurement signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the esophageal electrode probe is produced by a 3D printing method, and wherein the esophageal electrode probe includes a bioimpedance measuring device for measuring the bioimpedance of at least part of tissue surrounding the esophageal electrode probe, wherein the bioimpedance measuring device comprises at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode, wherein the at least one first electrode is arranged on a side of the esophageal electrode probe facing the heart, and wherein the at least one second electrode is arranged on a side of the esophageal electrode probe facing away from the heart.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] FIG. 1 an exemplary device for transesophageal bioimpedance monitoring and/or for cardiac stimulation and/or ECG and/or cardiac neurostimulation, in particular for temporary transesophageal left-heart stimulation and/or left-heart electrocardiography and/or neurostimulation;

[0057] FIG. 2 an exemplary device for transesophageal bioimpedance monitoring in cardiac resynchronization therapy or for the optimization of a cardiac, circulatory and respiratory support device;

[0058] FIG. 3 an exemplary device for transesophageal cardioversion of atrial fibrillation and/or transesophageal left-heart electrocardiography;

[0059] FIG. 4 the results of a combination of temporary transesophageal high-frequency atrial stimulation and temporary transesophageal neurostimulation with reduction of the stimulus threshold of the transesophageal atrial stimulation;

[0060] FIG. 5 an exemplary esophageal electrode probe for temporary left-heart stimulation by means of bipolar transesophageal left-atrial and bipolar left-ventricular stimulation and temporary transesophageal neurostimulation;

[0061] FIG. 6 an exemplary esophageal electrode probe for temporary transesophageal left-ventricular stimulation with reduced electrode-myocardium distance and temporary transesophageal neurostimulation;

[0062] FIG. 7 an exemplary esophageal electrode probe for temporary transesophageal left-ventricular stimulation with reduced electrode-myocardium distance and temporary transesophageal neurostimulation with reduced electrode-spinal cord distance;

[0063] FIGS. 8 to 11 exemplary esophageal electrode probes with an inflatable catheter balloon for temporary transesophageal left-atrial and/or left-ventricular stimulation, and/or for electrocardiography, and/or for hemodynamic monitoring with reduced electrode-myocardium distance, and/or for temporary transesophageal neurostimulation with reduced electrode-spinal cord distance;

[0064] FIGS. 12 to 14 exemplary esophageal electrode probes for temporary transesophageal stimulation, and/or electrocardiography, and/or bioimpedance measurement, and/or catheter ablation and/or cardioversion and/or cardiac stimulation and/or cardiac neurostimulation and/or temporary transesophageal neurostimulation without catheter balloon (FIG. 12), with an uninflated catheter balloon (FIG. 13) and with an inflated catheter balloon (FIG. 14);

[0065] FIG. 15 an exemplary esophageal electrode probe for neurostimulation and/or bipolar DC AF termination;

[0066] FIG. 16 an exemplary esophageal electrode probe for neurostimulation and/or unipolar DC AF termination;

[0067] FIG. 17 an exemplary 3D CAD heart model with an esophageal electrode probe;

[0068] FIG. 18 an exemplary cardiac neurostimulation in left-atrial and left-ventricular stimulation; and

[0069] FIG. 19 an exemplary cardiac neurostimulation and transthoracic and transesophageal electrocardiography at sinus rhythm and bundle branch block.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0070] FIG. 1 schematically shows an exemplary device for transesophageal bioimpedance monitoring and/or for further measurements and treatments, such as for cardiac stimulation, ECG and/or cardiac neurostimulation, in particular for temporary transesophageal left-heart stimulation and/or left-cardiac electrocardiography and/or neurostimulation 100 (as an example of a device for transesophageal cardiological treatment and/or diagnosis). The device 100 includes an esophageal electrode probe 10 with a plurality of electrodes 12A on the side 14 facing the heart 1 (near-heart) and with a plurality of electrodes 12B on the side 16 of the esophagus electrode probe 10 facing away from the heart. In the figures, the electrodes 12A on the near-heart side 14 of the esophageal electrode probe 10 are represented by black filled ellipses or circles and the electrodes 12B of the esophageal electrode probe 10 on the side 16 facing away from the heart are represented by unfilled ellipses or circles. The near-heart side and the side of the esophageal electrode probe 10 facing away from the heart can e.g. be marked by appropriate markings on the esophageal electrode probe 10, which enable a controlled placement of the probe in relation to the heart 1.

[0071] The electrodes 12A and 12B are each arranged in rows in the longitudinal direction or along the length of the esophageal electrode probe 10, with at least one row of electrodes 12A being arranged on the near-heart side 14 and at least one row of electrodes 12B being arranged on the side 16 of the esophageal electrode probe 10 facing away from the heart. The electrodes 12 comprise electrodes for bioimpedance measurement, which are arranged both on the near-heart side 14 and on the side 16 of the esophagus electrode probe facing away from the heart, electrodes for temporary transesophageal left-heart stimulation and/or left-heart cardiography and electrodes for neurostimulation, which are on the side 16 of the esophagus electrode probe 10 facing away from the heart. The neurostimulation can be used in particular for pain reduction in the case of transesophageal electrical stimulation and/or for the reduction of the stimulus threshold in the case of transesophageal left-ventricular and left-atrial stimulation, and can be carried out e.g. by high-frequency electrical signals with a frequency of 100 bpm to 1200 bpm, preferably from 100 bpm to 300 bpm, a strength of about 5V to 50V with a pulse width of 2 to 20 milliseconds for a duration of 2 seconds to 30 seconds.

[0072] The esophageal electrode probe 10 can also include additional electrodes or sensors, such as electrodes for transesophageal left-ventricular chamber stimulation and/or transesophageal left-atrial atrial stimulation on the near-heart side 14 of the esophageal electrode probe 10 or electrocardiography electrodes (ECG electrodes) on the near-heart side 14 of the esophageal electrode probe 10 for left-cardiac electrocardiography.

[0073] The individual electrodes 12 can be conventional electrodes that are at least partially made of a conductive material. For example, the electrodes 12 can have a substantially semi-spherical or semi-cylindrical shape, with the curved surface coming into contact with the patient's esophagus.

[0074] The electrodes 12 are connected to a control and evaluation device 30 via signal lines. The control and evaluation device 30 can be an external device or a device integrated in the esophageal electrode probe 10. In the device shown in FIG. 1, the control and evaluation device 30 is arranged outside the esophageal electrode probe 10.

[0075] Two or more of the electrodes 12 can be connected together. For example, two interconnected and/or controlled electrodes 12 can be used as a bipolar atrial electrode for transesophageal atrial stimulation or perception or as a bipolar ventricular electrode for transesophageal ventricular stimulation or perception. Four electrodes 12 can be connected together to form a unipolar electrode for unipolar cardioversion of atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation with a transthoracic or intracardial counterelectrode. By parallel operation of two distal and two proximal electrodes, for example, a transesophageal bipolar cardioversion is possible.

[0076] The electrodes 12 are in signal connection with a control and/or evaluation device 30, which evaluates the signals from the electrodes 12 (e.g. from the electrodes for bioimpedance measurement) and/or sends signals (e.g. control signals) to the electrodes 12 and possibly further devices. The signals received by the electrodes and/or the result of the evaluation thereof can be displayed on a display device. The control and/or evaluation device 30 is also adapted to generate evaluation signals (such as the warning signals, status signals and/or control signals described above) on the basis of the received signals in order to influence or control the progress of a catheter ablation, a cardiostimulation, a cardiac, circulatory and/or respiratory support device, and/or a neurostimulation. FIG. 1 further shows two electrocardiography signals S1 and S2 with two high-frequency electrostimulations.

[0077] FIG. 2 schematically shows an exemplary device 200 for transesophageal bioimpedance monitoring in cardiac resynchronization therapy or for optimization of a cardiac, circulatory and respiratory support device, in particular in high-frequency, cryo-, ultrasound or laser ablation of atrial fibrillation by isolation of the respiratory veins in the left atrium. The device 200 is an example of a device for transesophageal cardiological treatment and/or diagnosis.

[0078] The device 200 includes an esophageal electrode probe 10 with a plurality of electrodes 12 arranged in rows for bioimpedance measurement, a first row of electrodes 12A being arranged on the near-heart side 14 and a row of electrodes 12B being arranged on the side 16 of the esophagus electrode probe 10 facing away from the heart. The electrodes 12 are in signal connection with the control and evaluation device 30.

[0079] The device for transesophageal bioimpedance monitoring 200 and in particular the control and evaluation device 30 are adapted to continuously monitor tissue changes with the electrodes 12 facing the heart, to compare the bioimpedance measurement of the electrodes 12A facing the heart with the bioimpedance measurement of the electrodes 12B facing away from the heart and to derive and/or display information therefrom. At the same time, transesophageal hemodynamic monitoring can be performed.

[0080] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary transesophageal impedance cardiography signal S3 of a biventricular stimulation. For example, this can be used in respiratory vein isolation to treat atrial fibrillation in an implanted cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) system. In particular, FIG. 2 shows the right-atrial (RAP) and right-ventricular (RVP) stimulation pulse with a 200 ms atrioventricular delay of the implanted CRT system and the left-atrial (LA) and left-ventricular ECG signals with optimal biventricular stimulation with LA signal temporally before the RVP signal.

[0081] FIG. 3 schematically shows an exemplary device for transesophageal neurostimulation and cardiostimulation 300, in particular for transesophageal left-atrial and/or left-ventricular stimulation and electrocardiography as part of the diagnosis and therapy of bradycardic and tachycardiac arrhythmias, e.g. unitiation and termination of AV node reentry tachycardia (AVNRT), AV reentry tachycardia (AVRT) and atrial flutter, or for transesophageal left-ventricular stimulation as part of a temporary cardiac resynchronization therapy. The device 300 is an example of a device for transesophageal cardiological treatment and/or diagnosis.

[0082] The device 300 includes an esophageal electrode probe 10 with a plurality of electrodes 12 for neurostimulation on the side 16 of the esophageal electrode probe 10 facing away from the heart 1 and with a plurality of electrodes on the side 14 of the esophageal electrode probe 10 facing the heart for transesophageal electrical cardioversion by DC energy output, for example of 50J, for atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation. The esophageal electrode probe 10 may also comprise additional electrodes, such as ECG electrodes arranged on the side 14 of the esophageal electrode probe 10 facing the heart 1. The electrodes 12 are in signal connection with the control and evaluation device 30. Electrical signals with a frequency of 100 bpm to 3000 bpm, preferably from 1500 bpm to 2000 bpm and a strength of 5V to 100V are applied to the electrodes for neurostimulation for a duration of 3 to 30 seconds. The transesophageal neurostimulation enables pain reduction of the transesophageal cardiac stimulation, as shown in FIG. 4. In particular, FIG. 4a shows transthoracic ECG leads I, II, III, V1, V2 and V6 for high-frequency left-atrial stimulation with 400 bpm with stimulator 1 and high-frequency non-cardiac stimulation with 2000 bpm with stimulator 2.

[0083] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary esophageal electrode probe 10 for temporary transesophageal bipolar left-atrial and left-ventricular stimulation and noncardiac neurostimulation. The esophageal electrode probe 10 includes an elongated, essentially cylindrical, flexible probe body 18 with a distal end 13 and a proximal end. The longitudinal axis of the probe body 18 substantially coincides with the insertion direction of the probe. A plurality of electrodes 12 are arranged in rows on the probe body 18 between the distal and proximal ends. Each row of electrodes extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the probe 10. The electrodes 12B on the side of the esophageal electrode probe 10 facing away from the heart comprise electrodes for neurostimulation. The electrodes 12A on the side of the esophageal electrode probe 10 facing the heart comprise electrodes 12A for bipolar left-atrial and bipolar left-ventricular stimulation.

[0084] FIG. 6 shows another exemplary esophageal electrode probe 10 with flat electrodes 12A for left-heart stimulation and electrodes 12B for neurostimulation with a large electrode-spinal cord distance on the side of the esophageal electrode probe 10 facing away from the heart and a device for changing the electrode-myocardium distance, e.g. with a correspondingly pre-bent mandrin/stylet or with shape memory material.

[0085] FIG. 7 shows an exemplary esophageal electrode probe 10 for left-heart stimulation and neurostimulation with a plurality of elongated segments 11 with electrodes 12, which can reduce the electrode-myocardium distance. The elongated segments 11 are arranged similar to the segments of an umbrella that can be opened. The electrodes 12B on the side facing away from the heart comprise electrodes for neurostimulation and bioimpedance measurement. The electrodes on the side facing the heart include comprise electrodes for left-heart stimulation, ECG and bioimpedance measurement. The arrangement of the electrodes 12 is similar to the esophageal electrode probe 10 shown in FIG. 5. Also, the esophageal electrode probe 10 includes a device for changing the electrode-myocardium distance and the electrode-spinal cord distance, e.g. with a pre-bent mandrin/stylet or with shape memory material.

[0086] The electrodes 12 have a substantially semi-spherical or semi-cylindrical shape with a substantially plane surface and a conductive curved surface. In particular, electrodes 12B for neurosimulation and electrodes 12A for cardiostimulation are attached on the side 16 facing away from the heart and on the side facing the heart, respectively.

[0087] FIGS. 8 to 11 each show other exemplary esophageal electrode probes 10 for temporary transesophageal left-atrial and/or left-ventricular stimulation, and/or for electrocardiography, and/or for hemodynamic monitoring with a reduced electrode-myocardium distance and/or for temporary transesophageal neurostimulation with reduced electrode/spinal cord distance. The esophageal electrode probes 10 have an inflatable catheter balloon 20 on which electrodes 12 are attached.

[0088] The catheter balloon 20, which is formed from a biocompatible elastic material, is attached to the cylindrical probe body 18. For example, the catheter balloon 10 can be attached to the distal and proximal ends of the probe body 18. When the esophageal electrode probe 10 is in its correct position in the patient's esophagus, the catheter balloon 20 is inflated so that it comes into close contact with the patient's esophagus. FIGS. 8 to 11 each show the esophageal electrode probe 10 with the inflated catheter balloon 20. In this state, the conductive electrode surface of the electrodes 12 comes into low-resistance contact with the patient's esophagus, so that the stimulations and/or measurements can be carried out.

[0089] FIG. 12 shows an exemplary esophageal electrode probe 10 for bioimpedance measurement and optionally for further measurements and/or treatments, such as for ECG, ICG, catheter ablation, cardioversion, cardiac stimulation, cardiac neurostimulation, in particular for directional left-heart stimulation without the possibility of reducing the electrode-myocardium distance. The neurostimulation can optionally be carried out as cardiac neurostimulation in the direction of the heart and/or non-cardiac neurostimulation in the direction of the spine.

[0090] The esophageal electrode probe 10 has a plurality of electrodes 12 arranged in rows in the longitudinal direction of the probe body 18. The electrodes 12A on the side 14 of the esophageal electrode probe 10 facing the heart comprise electrodes for bioimpedance measurement and optionally electrodes for ICG, ECG, cardioversion, catheter ablation, neurostimulation and/or cardiac stimulation. The electrodes 12B on the side 16 of the esophageal electrode probe 10 facing away from the heart comprise electrodes for bioimpedance measurement and optionally also electrodes for ECG and neurostimulation. The proximal electrodes 12A are electrodes for unipolar or bipolar left-ventricular stimulation and electrocardiography and bioimpedance, and the proximal electrodes 12A are electrodes for unipolar or bipolar left-atrial stimulation and electrocardiography and bioimpedance without a catheter balloon.

[0091] FIGS. 13 and 14 each show other exemplary esophageal electrode probes 10 for bioimpedance measurement and optionally for further measurements and/or treatments, such as for left-heart stimulation, left-heart electrocardiography, left-heart bioimpedance, and/or neurostimulation. The neurostimulation can optionally be carried out as cardiac neurostimulation in the direction of the heart and/or non-cardiac neurostimulation in the direction of the spine.

[0092] FIG. 13 shows an exemplary esophageal electrode probe 10 with an uninflated catheter balloon 20. FIG. 14 shows an exemplary esophageal electrode probe with an inflated catheter balloon 20.

[0093] The esophageal electrode probe 10 has four symmetrically arranged rows of electrodes for stimulation, ECG, bioimpedance, cardiac neurostimulation, catheter ablation, etc. The difference to the previous probes is that the bipolar stimulation and/or electrocardiography/impedance between two neighboring electrodes can be realized in neighboring electrode rows. This allows, for example, more local ECGs to be detected and the left heart to be stimulated more locally.

[0094] Two or more of the electrodes 12 can be switched together and/or controlled as described above.

[0095] FIG. 15 shows an exemplary esophageal electrode probe 10 for bipolar DC cardioversion for the termination of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and combination with stimulation, ECG and impedance. FIG. 16 shows an exemplary esophageal electrode probe 10 for unipolar DC cardioversion for the termination of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and combination with stimulation, ECG and impedance.

[0096] FIGS. 18 and 19 each show examples of cardiac neurostimulations that can be carried out using the esophageal electrode probes 10 described above. In particular, FIGS. 18 and 19 show the transthoracic ECGs with the leads I, II, III, V1, V2, V5 and V6. FIG. 18 shows an exemplary cardiac neurostimulation with left-atrial and left-ventricular stimulation. FIG. 19 shows an exemplary cardiac neurostimulation and transthoracic and transesophageal electrocardiography at sinus rhythm and bundle branch block. The cardiac neurostimulation can be a non-excitatory cardiac neurostimulation (KNP), i.e. a high-frequency directional stimulation in the absolute ventricular refractory period, the stimulation being delivered within the QRS complex. The signals for control and regulation realize the pulse output in the QRS complex and prevent a pulse output outsides the QRS complex.

[0097] The cardiological treatments and/or measurements with the esophageal electrode probes 10 according to different aspects of the disclosure can be simulated using a digital heart model, e.g. based on 3D CAD technology. An anatomically correct 3D CAD heart rhythm model (HRM) for the simulation of electrophysiological examinations (EPU) and radio frequency (HF) ablations will be described below. This model can be used to electrically and thermally simulate complex cardiac rhythmological structures, intracardiac and esophageal electrode catheters and cardiac pacemaker electrodes. This is of great importance for the individualized optimization of the catheters and the catheter ablation process and of cardiac rhythm implants and for the optimization of lengthy and costly clinical studies. Likewise, the risk of endangering patients is reduced to a minimum and can be used in the context of teaching and research in the field of diagnosis and therapy of arrhythmias. With the help of the proposed 3D heart rhythm model, esophageal electrode probes can be produced in a patient-optimized and individualized way using the 3D printing technology as a prototype or series product.

[0098] The proposed 3D heart rhythm model includes myocardium, cardiac clamps, excitation formation, stimulus conduction, esophagus and intracardiac electrode catheter (as an example of an esophageal electrode probe) for the simulation of electrophysiological examinations (EPU), high-frequency (HF) ablation, cardiac pacemaker therapy and various bradycardic and tachycardic arrhythmias. In particular, in the 3D heart rhythm model, sinus nodes, Bachmann bundles, AV nodes, His bundles and right and left-ventricular Tawara branches are modeled. For example, the anatomy can be modeled to scale on the basis of MRT images and anatomical sectional images. Various electrode catheters and in particular esophageal electrode probes can also be modeled and positioned at suitable locations in the heart model. The materials used for the cardiac catheter and/or the tissue parameters of the heart anatomy and rhythmology can be read out from a database, wherein the database may be part of the simulation software.

[0099] The proposed heart rhythm model can be based for example on CST STUDIO SUITE, a simulation software from CST Computer Simulation Technology AG, Darmstadt, with which a variety of electromagnetic simulations can be carried out. Another advantage is that a large number of different material parameters are available. For example, the Material Library from CST contains a variety of materials related to human body tissue, wherein in these materials the necessary parameters such as electrical conductivity or heat capacity are contained. Of course, other simulation software can also be used.

[0100] To realize the heart model, the four ventricles and the heart's stimulus conduction and excitation formation system are modeled using material parameters (such as electrical conductivity, heat capacity, etc.) that relate to the human body tissue. Tissue cooling is preferably taken into account in the heart model by a calculated blood flow and metabolism. Furthermore, changes in the impedance of the tissue can also be taken into account.

[0101] FIG. 17 shows an exemplary 3D CAD heart model, which uses a tetrahedral mesh, wherein FIG. 17a shows the 3D CAD heart rhythm model with excitation conduction, FIG. 17b the heart model with cardiac catheters positioned, FIG. 17c the tetrahedral mesh of the ventricles and the excitation conduction, and FIG. 17d a section of the tetrahedral mesh of the esophageal catheter or the esophageal electrode probe.

[0102] In particular, the heart model has the following features: [0103] 3D modeling of the organs using a spline function, e.g. a tetrahedral mesh; [0104] complete cardiac lead (sinus node, AV node, Tawara branch, Bachmann bundle) by spline functions; [0105] positioning of the cardiac lead based on averaged MRT data; [0106] realization of the electrical conductivity through defined voltage paths along the cardiac lead; [0107] modeling of the esophagus by spline functions using MRT data; [0108] modeling of different catheters, such as multipolar electrode catheters; [0109] modeling of different bradycardia and tachycardia arrhythmias; [0110] modeling of electrostimulation, neurostimulation and/or electrocardiography; [0111] modeling of different ablations or catheter ablations, e.g. HF ablations; [0112] creation of a sine node signal based on EPU data by superimposing a defined trapezoidal signal and an action potential; [0113] definition of electrical heart excitation along the cardiac lead; [0114] modeling a realistic heart action by determining the temporal sequence of the signals and their amplitudes; [0115] definition of monitoring parameters with tested mesh parameters and resolution properties of the monitoring functions; [0116] deriving of the signals by defined 1D monitors on the catheters; [0117] implementation of ablation therapy by superimposing a high-frequency signal and an energy; [0118] interfaces and data formats for 3D printing of patient-specific heart rhythm models with and without cardiac catheter and/or esophageal electrode probe and/or electromagnetic and/or thermal field profiles for medical care, teaching and research; [0119] interfaces and data formats for 3D printing of esophageal electrode probes as prototypes and/or after approval of 3D print as series products.

[0120] The heart model in particular enables temporal simulations in the low frequency range. Due to the possibility to apply electrical potentials independent of the material and to define voltage paths, the heart model is ideally suited for the simulation of excitation conductions within the heart and for the simulation of electrical heart stimulation and electrocardiography with intracardial and transesophageal electrode catheters.

[0121] The heart model also enables the electrical or other properties to be monitored at defined points. The function of monitoring at defined points enables the derivation of simulated eigen-signals of the heart with the help of different electrodes of a multipolar electrode catheter. The temporal representation of an electrical cardiac activity can be visualized as an E-field using the LF Time Domain Solver.

[0122] Furthermore, different excitation signals can be created within the heart model, which enables the reconstruction of different heart rhythms. A thermal simulation can also be carried out, wherein heat and power sources are simulated and, depending on the desired result, are calculated statically or in the time domain over a defined period of time. By simulation of power sources in the time domain, it was possible to present a therapy in the form of HF ablation by the possibility of defining a high-frequency sinusoidal signal. With 3D printing, heart rhythm models and electrode models it is possible to create patient-specific heart rhythm models with and without cardiac catheters and/or esophageal electrode probes and/or electromagnetic and/or thermal field profiles for medical care, teaching and research.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0123] 1 heart [0124] 10 esophageal electrode probe [0125] 11 elongated segments [0126] 12 electrodes [0127] 12A electrodes on the side of the esophageal electrode probe facing the heart [0128] 12B electrodes on the side of the esophageal electrode probe facing away from the heart [0129] 13 distal end of the esophageal electrode probe [0130] 14 side of the esophageal electrode probe facing the heart [0131] 16 side of the esophageal electrode probe facing away from the heart [0132] 18 probe body [0133] 20 catheter balloon [0134] 30 control and/or evaluation device [0135] 100 device for transesophageal bioimpedance monitoring and for neurostimulation [0136] 200 device for transesophageal bioimpedance monitoring [0137] 300 device for transesophageal neurostimulation and cardiostimulation; [0138] S1 to S3 signals