Contoured Ablation Electrodes to Prevent Bubbles and Flash Arcing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pulsed field ablation using high voltage pulses in a fluid medium, such as blood, leads to undesirable effects like electrolysis and bubble formation due to high electric fields and current densities at electrode edges, which are problematic for cardiac tissue ablation.
Innovation Solution
The use of contoured electrodes with convex and concave portions to generate electric fields that reduce intensity at the electrode edges and minimize drop-off, thereby maintaining safe electric field values and improving spatial uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high voltage pulses are used for pulsed field ablation, then tissue ablation effectiveness is improved, but bubble formation and flash arcing occur due to high electric fields at electrode edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to electrode edges by providing contoured edges with convex and concave portions instead of sharp edges. This curvature distributes the electric field more evenly, preventing the concentration of high electric fields at sharp edges that would otherwise cause electrolysis, bubble formation, and flash arcing, while maintaining effective tissue ablation through irreversible electroporation
2Power
If high current densities are concentrated at electrode edges, then electric field intensity is improved for ablation, but bubble sizes increase and electrolysis occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different edge contours at different locations on the electrode. The contoured edges include convex portions that extend toward adjacent electrodes and concave portions that recess away, creating localized variations in electric field distribution. This allows the electrode to maintain high electric field intensity where needed for ablation while reducing current density concentration that would cause electrolysis and bubble generation
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 contoured electrodes effectively ablate tissue through irreversible electroporation while preventing bubble formation and flash arcing, ensuring safe and efficient tissue ablation.
Implementation Method 1
pulsed field ablation may generate locally high electric fields configured to drive irreversible electroporation (e.g., breakdown cell membranes resulting in cell death)
Implementation Method 2
each contoured electrode including: a proximal edge and a distal edge, at least one of the proximal edge or the distal edge being a contoured edge, the contoured edge having at least one concave portion or convex portion
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods are provided herein for delivering pulsed electric fields to ablation tissue (e.g., cardiac tissue). An ablation device can include one or more contoured electrodes with contoured edges that are disposed on an insulating member of the ablation device. The contoured electrodes can be configured to reduce an electric field intensity at an interface between the contoured electrodes and the insulating member and/or a drop-off in electric field intensity.