Electrode Configurations for Endovascular Therapy Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrical stimulation therapies for conditions like reperfusion damage and neurological disorders face challenges in efficiently delivering directional electrical stimulation and sensing due to limitations in electrode design, particularly in minimizing rotation and maximizing conductive surface area without increasing size or mass.
Innovation Solution
The development of endovascular medical devices with expandable structures and electrode attachment elements that allow for directional orientation of electrodes, enabling a higher conductive surface area to face radially outward, facilitating efficient electrical stimulation and sensing by minimizing electrode rotation and deformation during deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If electrodes are designed with larger conductive surface area, then electrical stimulation efficiency is improved, but electrode size and mass increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode transitions from a conventional cylindrical shape to a flattened disc-shaped configuration. This dimensional change allows the electrode to present a larger conductive surface area (improving electrical stimulation efficiency) while maintaining a thin profile that reduces overall mass and enables flexibility for endovascular deployment.
2Ease of operation
If electrodes are made flexible to deform during deployment, then ease of delivery is improved, but rotational stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is segmented into a flexible disc-shaped body with a distinct central attachment region. This segmentation allows the distal portion to remain flexible for deformation during delivery while the central region provides a stable interface for rotational fixation to the expandable structure via protrusion-reception mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode incorporates dynamic characteristics through its flexible disc shape that allows deformation during delivery, while the attachment mechanism provides static rotational stability when deployed. The flexibility enables the electrode to conform to the expandable structure during deployment, and the protrusion-reception features lock the orientation once deployed.
3Manufacturing precision
If electrode orientation is fixed to prevent rotation, then directional stimulation precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode employs asymmetric features including an off-center protrusion and a corresponding asymmetric recess in the expandable structure. This asymmetry provides inherent rotational orientation guidance, ensuring the conductive surface faces the correct direction (radially outward toward the vessel wall) without requiring complex active control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism is pre-configured with protrusions and recesses that automatically guide and lock the electrode into the correct orientation during the deployment process. This preliminary mechanical guidance ensures proper directional orientation is achieved as part of the normal deployment sequence, eliminating the need for post-deployment adjustment or complex active orientation control.
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, an endovascular medical device system includes an elongated body configured to be introduced in a blood vessel of a patient. The system includes an expandable structure at a distal portion of the elongated body. The expandable structure includes an expandable body portion including a plurality of interconnected struts. The expandable structure further includes a plurality of electrode attachment elements, where each electrode attachment element of the plurality of electrode attachment elements includes a first projection and a second projection branching off of at least one strut of the plurality of interconnected struts. In some examples, the system includes one or more electrodes coupled to the expandable structure via the plurality of electrode attachment elements. In some examples, each electrode of the one or more electrodes is configured to receive the first projection and the second projection to couple the respective electrode to the expandable structure.