Circumferential Ablation Electrodes for Irregular Vessel Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrode systems struggle to maintain constant and uniform contact with varying or irregularly shaped treatment areas, particularly in body vessels, leading to challenges in delivering high-field electric pulses effectively.
Innovation Solution
The development of electrodes that can conform to varying and irregularly shaped treatment areas, including expandable frames and adjustable electrode configurations, allowing for the delivery of sub-microsecond pulsed electrical fields that induce apoptosis in targeted cells while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional rigid electrodes are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the electrodes cannot maintain constant and uniform contact with varying or irregularly shaped treatment areas
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode system employs expandable frames that can dynamically adjust their configuration. The frames are collapsible during delivery and expandable at the treatment site, allowing them to adapt to varying diameters and irregular shapes of body vessels. This dynamic transformation enables the electrodes to maintain uniform contact with the treatment area while managing structural complexity through a controlled deployment mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode system changes its physical parameters (size, shape, configuration) by transitioning from a compressed delivery state to an expanded treatment state. The frames can adjust their diameter and geometric configuration to match the specific anatomy of the treatment area, thereby achieving adaptability without requiring multiple different electrode designs.
2Reliability
If high-field strength electric pulses are delivered to treat irregularly shaped areas, then the treatment effectiveness increases, but maintaining uniform electrode contact becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode system is divided into multiple electrode segments or pairs distributed along the expandable frame. This segmentation allows different portions of the treatment area to be addressed independently, ensuring that high-field strength pulses can be delivered uniformly across irregularly shaped regions. Each electrode segment can maintain optimal contact with the local anatomy while contributing to the overall treatment effectiveness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If expandable frames are used to conform to varying treatment areas, then electrode contact uniformity improves, but the device complexity and delivery difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable frames are designed to be nested within each other or collapsed into a compact configuration that can be inserted through a delivery catheter. The frames are stored in a compressed, space-efficient state during delivery and then expanded at the target site. This nesting principle allows the complex expandable structure to be manufactured and delivered through minimally invasive routes while maintaining the ability to achieve uniform contact at the treatment site.
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 electrodes effectively deliver nanosecond to picosecond pulsed electrical fields, inducing apoptosis in targeted tissues without substantial thermal impact, thus treating irregularly shaped body vessels and lumens with precision and safety.
Implementation Method 1
deliver nanosecond to picosecond pulsed electrical fields, inducing apoptosis in targeted tissues without substantial thermal impact
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for providing pulsed electrical treatment (including high voltage, sub-microsecond pulsed electric energy) to body vessels. The apparatus may include deployable electrodes that conform to transitional surfaces. These apparatuses may include multiple wire loops forming petal-like electrodes configured to expand with an expandable member, such as a balloon.