Catheter Electrical Lead with Conductive Braid and Intermediate Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrophysiology catheters face challenges in effectively cooling and treating heart tissues during medical procedures, as current electrical leads lack sufficient reinforcement and flexibility, making it difficult to navigate through the cardiovascular system while maintaining effective electrode functionality.
Innovation Solution
The method involves creating an electrical lead with a non-conductive tubular member, a conductive braid, intermediate non-conductive layer, and helically arranged conductors, along with a kidney-shaped irrigation passage and end electrodes, which provides structural reinforcement, flexibility, and efficient cooling through a deformable irrigation passage adapter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional electrical lead structure is used, then the catheter can be manufactured with standard components, but the catheter lacks sufficient pushability and torque transfer for effective navigation through the cardiovascular system
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical lead employs a composite construction combining a non-conductive tubular member (elongate member) with a conductive braid applied over it. This composite structure integrates mechanical reinforcement functions into the lead itself, eliminating the need for separate reinforcement elements and simplifying the overall device architecture while achieving superior pushability and torque transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The lead structure is segmented into distinct functional layers: a non-conductive tubular member providing structural support and flexibility, a conductive braid providing electrical conductivity and additional reinforcement, and an intermediate non-conductive layer isolating the conductors from the braid. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized for its specific function while working together to achieve the desired mechanical performance.
2Volume of moving object
If the catheter diameter is reduced for better navigation, then the catheter can access smaller vessels, but the structural reinforcement and electrode functionality become compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The elongate member serves as a flexible non-conductive shell that provides structural reinforcement without significantly increasing the catheter diameter. The braid applied over the tubular member acts as a thin film reinforcement layer that enhances strength and torque transfer while maintaining a compact profile, enabling the catheter to navigate small vessels without compromising structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite construction of the electrical lead, combining non-conductive and conductive materials in layered fashion, maximizes the strength-to-diameter ratio. This allows the catheter to maintain sufficient structural reinforcement and electrode functionality while achieving a reduced overall diameter for better navigation through the cardiovascular system.
3Ease of manufacture
If the irrigation passage is made deformable to facilitate adapter insertion, then the adapter can be easily inserted, but the passage may collapse or lose its shape
Solution Approach 1:
The irrigation passage is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to deform elastically during adapter insertion and then recover its original shape. The passage wall material and thickness are optimized to provide sufficient flexibility for deformation during the insertion process while maintaining enough structural integrity to return to its predetermined cross-sectional shape, ensuring stable fluid flow characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical lead for a catheter includes an elongate member of non-conductive material having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The elongate member further includes a tubular member of non-conductive material, a braid of conductive material applied over the tubular member, an intermediate layer of non-conductive material applied over the braid, a plurality of electrical conductors extending from the proximal end to the distal end laid on the intermediate layer, and an outer layer of non-conductive material applied over the electrical conductors to cover the conductors. At least one electrode is arranged on the outer surface of the elongate member in electrical communication with at least one of the plurality of electrical conductors through the outer layer. The braid underlies the at least one electrode but is insulated from the at least one electrode by the intermediate non-conductive layer.