Catheter Electrode Selection for Selective Tissue Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electroporation methods lack specificity in electrode selection for selective and rapid tissue ablation, necessitating improved energy delivery and voltage pulse control for various tissue types, particularly in cardiac arrhythmia treatment.
Innovation Solution
A catheter system with a voltage pulse generator and electrode controller that selectively applies DC voltage to a subset of electrodes, using a selection module to identify anode and cathode pairs, and delivers pulsed voltage waveforms for irreversible electroporation, with features like biphasic waveforms and sequential electrode updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If brief high voltage DC pulses are applied to tissue to generate irreversible electroporation, then cell membrane disruption and tissue ablation are achieved, but selective control over which tissue is ablated is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the electrode array into multiple independently controllable groups or pairs, allowing selective activation of specific electrode segments to target particular tissue regions while sparing others. This segmentation enables precise spatial control over where electroporation occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different voltage pulse characteristics (amplitude, duration, polarity) to different electrode pairs based on local tissue requirements. By tailoring the electroporation parameters locally to each target region, the system achieves selective ablation of specific tissue types or pathological areas while preserving surrounding healthy tissue.
2Productivity
If high voltage pulses are applied rapidly to achieve quick tissue ablation, then treatment time is reduced, but control over voltage delivery timing and duration becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic or pulsed voltage delivery with controlled intervals between pulses. By delivering voltage in rapid sequences with precise timing control, the system achieves quick tissue ablation while using the间歇性 nature of pulse delivery to simplify control requirements compared to continuous high voltage application.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures electrode pairs and pulse parameters before delivery, and may deliver preliminary lower amplitude pulses to prepare tissue or map electrical characteristics. This preliminary action allows the main ablation pulses to be delivered rapidly with optimized timing, reducing overall control complexity during the critical ablation phase.
3Adaptability or versatility
If electroporation is used to treat various tissue types including cardiac arrhythmias, then therapeutic versatility is improved, but precise control over energy delivery to different tissue types is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a unified electroporation platform that can treat multiple tissue types and conditions (cardiac arrhythmias, tumors, fibrosis) using the same basic mechanism of irreversible electroporation. By maintaining universal applicability of the electroporation principle across different therapeutic indications, the system achieves versatility without requiring entirely separate delivery systems for each application.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adjusts electroporation parameters (voltage amplitude, pulse duration, number of pulses, inter-pulse intervals) based on the specific tissue type and therapeutic goal. By dynamically changing these parameters rather than using fixed settings, the system adapts to different tissue characteristics and clinical indications while using a single versatile platform.
Data Source
AI summary
Catheter systems and methods for the selective and rapid application of DC voltage to drive irreversible electroporation are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a voltage pulse generator and an electrode controller. The voltage pulse generator is configured to produce a pulsed voltage waveform. The electrode controller is configured to be operably coupled to the voltage pulse generator and a medical device including a series of electrodes. The electrode controller includes a selection module and a pulse delivery module. The selection module is configured to select a subset of electrodes from the series of electrodes. The selection module is configured identify at least one electrode as an anode and at least one electrode as a cathode. The pulse delivery module is configured to deliver an output signal associated with the pulsed voltage waveform to the subset of electrodes.