Ablation Catheter Power Routing Circuit for Accurate Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endovascular thermal ablation systems face inaccuracies in temperature measurement due to heat dissipation in the power routing circuit, leading to potential underheating or overheating of the vein wall, which can compromise the effectiveness of vein occlusion and risk tissue damage.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a power routing circuit with transistors, such as MOSFETs, in parallel with diodes to reduce forward voltage drops, minimizing heat dissipation and improving temperature measurement accuracy at the distal end of the catheter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional power routing circuit components (diodes) are used, then the circuit can route power to heating elements, but forward voltage drops cause heat dissipation that compromises temperature measurement accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature measurement accuracyVSAvoidheat dissipation in power routing circuit

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the electrical parameters of the power routing circuit by replacing diodes with MOSFETs that have significantly lower forward voltage drops. This parameter change reduces the voltage loss across the routing components, thereby reducing heat dissipation (P=VI) and improving temperature measurement accuracy at the distal end of the catheter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of forward voltage drops (which cause heat dissipation and measurement errors) into a benefit by using MOSFETs with such low resistance that the voltage drop becomes negligible. This transforms the power routing circuit from a source of measurement error into a near-ideal power delivery path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If higher power is delivered to heating elements to ensure effective vein occlusion, then vein occlusion effectiveness improves, but heat dissipation in the power routing circuit increases causing temperature measurement inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevein occlusion effectivenessVSAvoidtemperature measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the resistance parameter of the power routing circuit components from diode-level resistance to MOSFET-level resistance. This allows higher power delivery to heating elements for effective vein occlusion while minimizing the voltage drop and heat dissipation in the routing circuit, thereby maintaining accurate temperature measurements even at high power levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If power routing circuit components with lower forward voltage drops are used, then heat dissipation is reduced improving temperature measurement accuracy, but device complexity increases due to MOSFET circuit configuration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature measurement accuracyVSAvoidpower routing circuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes diode-based power routing with MOSFET-based power routing. While MOSFETs require gate control signals, the overall system complexity is managed through integrated control circuitry that can simultaneously control multiple MOSFETs, enabling sophisticated power delivery patterns while maintaining low loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enhances temperature measurement accuracy by reducing heat dissipation in the handle, ensuring effective vein occlusion and minimizing tissue damage during thermal ablation procedures.

Implementation Method 1

power is delivered to heating elements located in the inserted portion of the catheter to apply the heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20260076729A1Ablation systems with reduced energy loss

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 VENCLOSE

AI summary

In some examples, a power routing circuit of an endovascular ablation system may include components with reduced forward voltage drops in a handle of a thermal ablation catheter. The handle may also include a reference temperature sensor used for closed-loop temperature control. In some examples, power routing circuit may include transistors such as metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). In some examples, transistors may be coupled in parallel with diodes in the power routing circuit. In some examples, the diodes may be Schottky diodes. The reduction in forward voltage drops may reduce heat dissipation of the power routing circuit, which may reduce heating of the reference temperature sensor. Power losses in the handle that lead to reduced power in the distal heating elements may be reduced.