High Voltage Ablation Catheter Insulating Balloon
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-voltage electroporation ablation technologies face challenges such as increased risk of electrical arcing, short circuits, and tissue damage due to high electric fields, particularly with balloon catheters, which can lead to acute catheter failure and stroke risks.
Innovation Solution
A high-voltage electrical ablation system using a catheter with an expandable membrane and low-electrical-conductivity fluid, such as a dextrose solution, to minimize the risk of balloon rupture and direct electrical current efficiently towards the target tissue, while maintaining safety and efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-voltage electroporation ablation is used, then lesion formation efficiency is improved, but the risk of electrical arcing and short circuits increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an electrically insulating balloon as an intermediary between the high-voltage electrical generator and the target tissue. This balloon mediator allows safe delivery of high-voltage electroporation energy while preventing direct electrical contact that would cause arcing or short circuits, thus resolving the contradiction between lesion formation efficiency and catheter safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a thin-film electrically insulating balloon that can be inflated to contact the target tissue surface. This flexible thin-film structure enables conformal contact for efficient energy delivery while the insulating material prevents electrical arcing, simultaneously achieving high lesion formation efficiency and catheter safety
2Speed
If high-voltage electroporation ablation is used, then ablation speed is improved, but the risk of tissue damage to non-target areas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies high-voltage electroporation energy locally only to the tissue area in direct contact with the insulating balloon, creating highly localized electric fields. This localized energy delivery achieves rapid ablation of target tissue while preventing electrical fields from extending to and damaging non-target tissues, thus resolving the contradiction between ablation speed and safety
3Shape
If saline is used as balloon fill fluid, then balloon expansion is achieved, but electrical conductivity increases causing safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical conductivity parameter of the balloon fill fluid by using electrically insulating materials instead of conductive saline. This parameter change allows the balloon to maintain its expansion function while eliminating electrical conductivity that would cause short circuits or arcing, thus resolving the contradiction between balloon expansion and electrical safety
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system reduces the risk of balloon rupture, allows for more efficient energy delivery, and improves safety by minimizing damage to non-target tissues, enabling effective lesion formation with reduced energy use and easier catheter placement.
Implementation Method 1
A high-voltage electrical ablation system using a catheter with an expandable membrane and low-electrical-conductivity fluid, such as a dextrose solution, to minimize the risk of balloon rupture and direct electrical current efficiently towards the target tissue
Implementation Method 2
More recently, cardiac ablations have been performed using high voltages (e.g., over 500V) for electroporation, with which the higher voltages cause damage to cardiac tissue cells to create a lesion
Data Source
AI summary
A system for ablating bodily tissue of a patient includes a high-voltage electrical generator configured to provide electrical pulses of at least 500 volts, a fluid having an electrical conductivity of not more than 0.01 Siemens per meter, and an ablation catheter that includes a catheter shaft, an expandable membrane attached to the catheter shaft, and a plurality of electrodes, each electrically coupled to the high-voltage electrical generator. The fluid inflates the expandable membrane when provided to the interior space of the expandable membrane.