Implantable Medical Electrode Antenna for MRI Heating Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical electrode devices face the challenge of excessive heating during MRI examinations due to RF excitation fields, which can cause tissue damage from increased electrical field strength at the flattened electrode end.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an antenna element with an antenna line extending along a flat plane on the carrier element of the flattened electrode end, designed to resonate at MRI frequencies, which redirects and dissipates RF energy away from tissue contact areas, preventing local heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrode device is designed with electrical lines and contact elements for neuro-stimulation, then the device can effectively deliver stimulation signals to tissue, but the device exhibits resonant behavior during MRI procedures causing excessive heating at the electrode-tissue interface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an antenna element as an intermediary component that couples to RF excitation fields during MRI procedures. This antenna element acts as a mediator that interacts with the harmful RF fields to prevent excessive heating at the electrode-tissue interface, while not interfering with the normal stimulation function of the electrical lines and contact elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode device combines multiple functional components into a composite structure: the carrier element with contact elements for stimulation delivery, electrical lines for signal transmission, and an antenna element for RF field coupling. This composite design allows the device to simultaneously perform neuro-stimulation and protect against MRI-induced heating.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the antenna element is added to the flattened electrode end to couple RF excitation fields, then excessive heating is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna element is integrated into the flattened electrode end structure, merging the antenna function with the existing carrier element and contact elements. This combining approach allows the antenna element to be incorporated without requiring a completely separate structure, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving RF field coupling capability.
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 antenna element effectively couples RF excitation fields, distributing energy dissipation across a larger area, thereby preventing excessive heating at the electrode-tissue interface during MRI procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The antenna element effectively couples RF excitation fields, distributing energy dissipation across a larger area, thereby preventing excessive heating at the electrode-tissue interface during MRI procedures.
Implementation Method 2
an antenna element arranged on the carrier element and comprising an antenna line having a first end and a second end, wherein the antenna line extends along a flat plane
Data Source
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AI summary
A medical electrode device (1) for implantation into a patient (P) comprises a lead body (10) extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis (L), at least one electrical line (13) extending within the lead body (10) and a flattened electrode end (11) arranged at a distal end of the lead body (10). The flattened electrode end (11) comprises a carrier element (14) and a multiplicity of electrical contact elements (12) connected to the at least one electrical line (13), wherein the multiplicity of electrical contact elements (12) is arranged on a flat face (142) of the carrier element (14) for contacting tissue in proximity to the flattened electrode end (11) in an implanted state of the medical electrode device (1). The flattened electrode end (11) further comprises an antenna element (15) arranged on the carrier element (14) and comprising an antenna line (150) having a first end (151) and a second end (152), wherein the antenna line (150) extends along a flat plane (A).