Changzhou First People's Hospital to Transfer Adjustable Alcohol Ablation Guiding Catheter System for RMB 5.35 Million

Recently, Changzhou First People's Hospital released a public notice on the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. The hospital intends to transfer its intellectual property through negotiated pricing.“A Steerable Alcohol Ablation Guide Catheter System”Transfer of relevant patents, with a transfer amount ofUpfront Fee of RMB 50,000 + Sales Revenue Share of RMB 5.3 Million, totaling RMB5.35 million yuan。

This technology is an adjustable-curve alcohol ablation guide catheter system, belonging to the field of interventional medical device technology, with its core application inMarshall Vein Ethanol Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Its core function is to address the limitations of existing technologies through the coordinated adjustment of the first and second deflection segments on the guiding catheter: first, it enables rapid and accurate cannulation of the coronary sinus ostium, accommodating anatomical variations of the heart; second, it allows precise control of guidewire advancement into the vein of Marshall (including variant structures such as bifurcated and lateral types), achieving “super-selective” adaptation while enhancing guidewire pushability stability, overcoming acute-angle obstacles, and supporting cross-plane adjustment. Ultimately, this reduces procedural time, lowers intraoperative risks, and improves the success rate of atrial fibrillation ablation procedures.

In catheter ablation therapy for persistent atrial fibrillation,The Marshall vein (ligament) and its associated structures are one of the important origins of extra-pulmonary venous driver foci.. In recent years, Marshall vein ethanol ablation has become a popular technique for improving the success rate of catheter ablation in persistent atrial fibrillation due to its favorable feasibility and safety profile. However, this technique faces two major critical challenges in clinical practice.

First,There was significant difficulty in advancing the guiding catheter from the inferior vena cava, through the atrium, and into the ostium of the coronary sinus.Since the ostium of the coronary sinus is located on the atrial wall, the catheter must be bent to a specific angle in vivo to facilitate successful cannulation.

However, the pre-shaped angle of the catheter, determined based on planar angiography prior to the procedure, often changes due to factors such as increased intracorporeal temperature and prolonged traversal time. Furthermore, two-dimensional imaging fails to accurately reflect three-dimensional anatomical structures. This necessitates repeated withdrawal and reshaping of the catheter by the operator, which not only prolongs procedural and fluoroscopy times but also increases the risk of perforating the atrial wall or coronary venous wall, thereby leading to serious complications such as thrombosis or venous dissection.

Secondly,Even after successful cannulation of the coronary sinus, precise guidewire advancement into the vein of Marshall remains highly challenging.As a branch of the coronary vein, the Vein of Marshall exhibits variable ostial orientations, with common anatomical variants including bifurcating, lateral, and inferiorly compressed types. Conventional guiding catheters can only align with the ostium via side holes and lack the ability to actively control the guidewire’s trajectory. This is particularly challenging when encountering variant structures with lateral obtuse angles or near-parallel courses, where the guidewire is highly prone to deviating from the target.

More critically, even when the catheter tip is aligned with the ostium of the vein of Marshall, a minute gap between the two may still allow the curved distal end of the guidewire to protrude through the gap, resulting in failed cannulation. Although existing dedicated catheters have been improved, they remain ineffective in addressing these challenges in cases with complex anatomical structures, such as a high-lying coronary sinus ostium or atrial enlargement.

of the present inventionAdjustable-Curved Alcohol Ablation Guide Catheter SystemThrough innovativeDual-Curve Bent Segment Design, effectively addressing the core pain points in existing technologies. The system includesAdjacent first and second bending sections, each controlled by an independent deflection mechanism, they can work in concert to achieve unprecedented precision in navigation within the complex and variable cardiac anatomy. By primarily adjusting the second deflection segment to significantly alter the overall advancement direction of the catheter within the atrium, and fine-tuning the first deflection segment in coordination, the catheter can be rapidly and accurately delivered into the coronary sinus ostium, significantly shortening procedure time and reducing the risk of perforation associated with repeated attempts.

This system not only facilitates smooth access to the target vessel but also enables “superselective” cannulation of the ostium of the vein of Marshall.By primarily adjusting the curvature of the first deflectable segment (even enabling reverse deflection to accommodate laterally oriented ostia) and coordinately fine-tuning the second deflectable segment, the orientation of the catheter’s distal tip can be precisely aligned with the course of the vein of Marshall. Meanwhile, adjustment of the second deflectable segment elevates the first segment as a whole, allowing the catheter tip to closely appose or even fully engage the ostium of the vein of Marshall. This completely prevents guidewire protrusion through gaps that could lead to failed cannulation, thereby significantly improving the guidewire crossing success rate.

Furthermore,This technology significantly enhances the stability and safety of surgical procedures.By adjusting the two steerable segments, the catheter can form a stable "hook-like" anchoring structure within the coronary vein, actively securing the catheter tip against the vessel wall to provide robust axial support for the advancement of guidewires or balloons. The first steerable segment features large-angle bidirectional bending capability, which, in conjunction with the assistance of the second steerable segment, allows for the flexible formation of compound curves. This effectively navigates the acute angle between the vein of Marshall ostium and the coronary vein, establishing a smooth pathway for the guidewire.

The system also features excellent cross-plane adaptability.When the actual orientation of the ostium of the vein of Marshall is inconsistent with the preoperatively planned deflection plane, the operator can simply rotate the handle to convert the catheter’s bending plane (e.g., superior–inferior deflection) into the desired orientation (e.g., left–right deflection), thereby achieving “cross-plane adaptation.” The entire deflection process can be performed in real time during the procedure, eliminating the need to withdraw and repeatedly reshape the catheter. This not only simplifies the operational workflow but also significantly reduces intraoperative risks. Overall, this invention features a rational design and ease of use, effectively lowering the learning curve for operators, and holds promise as an ideal tool for alcohol ablation therapy of the vein of Marshall.

Globally, the technological evolution of steerable ablation catheters has advanced from “multi-directional steering” to “precise sensing + intelligent navigation.” International companies are focusing on force sensing and AI integration, while domestic enterprises are accelerating import substitution through cost-effectiveness advantages. Furthermore, their structural designs, such as dual-steerable segments and snake-bone joint skeletons, exhibit technical synergy with the patented product in question.

Biosense Webster, a Johnson & Johnson companyLaunchedAdjustable Steerable Cryoablation Catheter, usingCryoablation Technology(-70°C to -80°C), which differs from the alcohol ablation approach but is comparable in terms of steerable control technology. This catheter supports bidirectional deflection with a minimum bending radius of 5 mm. The new version launched in 2024 features an optimized handle control system that enables a “one-click reset” function, thereby reducing procedural steps for operators. Currently, this product is commercially available in Europe (CE certified), the United States (FDA cleared), and China (NMPA approved).