Bipolar Electrode Sensor Layout for Foldable Ablation Catheters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices for tissue ablation, such as those with expandable balloons, face challenges in efficiently monitoring temperature during energy delivery due to the need for additional thermistors, which increase stiffness, profile, and complexity, making it difficult to fold and retract through smaller sheaths or catheters.
Innovation Solution
The placement of temperature sensors, such as thermistors, off-center or under the ground electrodes on flexible circuits reduces the need for additional thermistors, allowing for accurate temperature monitoring without increasing the device's profile and improving foldability, enabling smaller sheath insertion and withdrawal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional thermistors are added to monitor temperature during energy delivery, then temperature monitoring accuracy is improved, but device stiffness and profile increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ground electrodes serve dual functions: as electrical ground contacts for energy delivery and as mounting positions for temperature sensors. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated sensor mounting structures, reducing device complexity while maintaining temperature monitoring accuracy through the thermistors positioned at or near the electrode-tissue interface.
2Measurement precision
If additional thermistors are added to monitor temperature during energy delivery, then temperature monitoring accuracy is improved, but device foldability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By utilizing the ground electrodes as integrated sensor mounting positions, the design eliminates additional components that would impede folding. The thermistors are positioned to leverage the existing electrode structure, allowing the device to maintain flexibility and foldability while achieving accurate temperature monitoring through the compact integration of sensing elements at the electrode-tissue interface.
3Ease of operation
If device profile is reduced for smaller sheath insertion, then ease of deployment is improved, but temperature monitoring capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature sensors are positioned specifically at or near the electrode-tissue interface where temperature measurement is most critical for safe and effective ablation. This localized sensing approach ensures accurate monitoring of the actual treatment zone temperatures, enabling precise control of the ablation process while maintaining a compact device profile suitable for small sheath insertion.
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
This configuration ensures precise temperature control during tissue ablation with reduced device stiffness and profile, facilitating easier deployment and retrieval through smaller catheters while maintaining consistent lesion formation.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plurality of electrode assemblies may include one or more temperature sensor aligned with two or more electrodes within an array
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a medical device for tissue ablation, comprising: a catheter shaft; an expandable member coupled to the catheter shaft, the expandable member being capable of shifting between an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration; and a plurality of elongate electrode assemblies each constructed as a flexible circuit, the plurality of elongate electrode assemblies disposed on an outer surface of the expandable member; wherein each of the plurality of elongate electrode assemblies includes one or more temperature sensors and a plurality of pairs of electrodes; and wherein the one or more temperature sensors is positioned between the plurality of pairs of electrodes.