High-Voltage Electrode Connector Layout to Prevent Arcing
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for electrodes to deliver nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) to patients with minimal distortion and maximum safety, as existing technologies lack effective solutions for delivering high voltage electrical pulses to treat cancerous tumors without affecting surrounding tissue.
Innovation Solution
The development of high voltage electrodes and connectors that include insulative structures to maintain minimum clearance distances between terminals and a user's hand, adjustable terminal lengths, and circuitry to count and store pulse numbers, ensuring safe and effective delivery of nsPEFs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If high voltage terminals are placed close together to reduce device size, then device complexity is reduced, but the risk of electrical discharge and safety hazards increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces insulating structures (insulating bars, insulating walls, insulating coatings) as intermediary elements between high voltage terminals and user body parts. These insulating intermediaries maintain minimum clearance distances while allowing the terminals to be positioned in a compact arrangement, thus reducing device size without compromising safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs three-dimensional spatial arrangement of terminals and insulating structures, utilizing vertical and lateral dimensions to maintain clearance distances. By distributing terminals in multiple dimensions rather than simply reducing linear distance, the design achieves compactness while preserving safety clearances.
2Reliability
If insulating structures are added to provide minimum clearance distances, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple safety functions into integrated insulating structures that simultaneously provide electrical insulation, mechanical support, and spatial positioning. The insulating bars and walls serve multiple purposes: preventing electrical discharge, maintaining terminal spacing, and structuring the overall device architecture, thereby reducing the need for separate safety components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes thin film insulating coatings and flexible insulating structures that provide adequate clearance distances while minimizing added bulk and complexity. These thin film solutions maintain safety requirements without significantly increasing the overall device size or structural complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If terminal lengths are made adjustable to optimize treatment effectiveness, then treatment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustable terminal lengths through dynamic design features such as telescopic structures, movable terminal segments, or interchangeable terminal components. These dynamic elements allow the terminal length to be modified based on treatment requirements while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through standardized adjustment mechanisms.
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 provide safe and efficient delivery of nsPEFs, inducing apoptosis in cancerous tumors while minimizing impact on normal cells, and stimulating an immune response against residual tumor cells.
Implementation Method 1
insulative structures to maintain minimum clearance distances between terminals and a user's hand
Implementation Method 2
A 'nanosecond pulsed electric field,' sometimes abbreviated as nsPEF, includes an electric field with a sub-microsecond pulse width of between 0.1 nanoseconds (ns) and 1000 nanoseconds
Data Source
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AI summary
A handheld, therapeutic electrode and connector that are compatible with high voltages from a pulse generator are disclosed. The electrode includes therapeutic terminals on a tip configured to deliver high voltage pulses safely to a patient. The electrode includes sleeves, bosses, wiring channels, and other features that maximize a minimum clearance distance (across non-conductive surfaces) and air clearance between conductive connectors themselves or the connectors and a user, thus preventing dangerous arcing. Internal surfaces and seams are taken into account. The connector and its mating outlet can include similar features to maximize clearance distance. Skirts, skirt holes, and finger stops are also employed, and they can be on either the connector or outlet, or the tip or handle of the electrode.