A novel balloon catheter for thermal management during surgery

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Treatment of irregular heartbeat often utilizes the transfer of thermal energy to/from the heart to create a lesion, using Radiofrequency heart ablation (RFA), but this additional heat may damage surrounding structures, notably the esophagus. As a major supplier of high-technology cardiology, endovascular and oncology products for use in surgery, Baylis Medical seeks to develop and bring to market within 2 years a new system for keeping the esophagus muscle temperature within the 0 - 50 deg C range by managing the esophagus internal lumen temperature. This is to be achieved by a novel balloon catheter/heat exchanger system, the thermo-fluid dynamics and materials development of which forms the basis of this Engage project. The new product will be readily applicable to radiofrequency (RF) devices, including the existing high-tech RF Puncture System developed by Baylis Medical, thus helping to save the lives of those patients undergoing RFA treatment. It is intended that the final commercial system will also be used for heating/cooling in other surgical procedures.