Flexible Electrode Patch for Intravascular Ventricular Volume Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intravascular blood pumps lack the capability for real-time ventricular volume measurements, which are crucial for assessing cardiac performance and unloading, and often require dedicated conductance or admittance catheters for such measurements.
Innovation Solution
An electrode assembly patch is attached to the intravascular blood pump, featuring a flexible, multi-layered construction with electrodes configured to induce current and measure voltage, allowing for real-time ventricular volume determination without the need for additional catheters, while maintaining proper electrode alignment and adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If dedicated conductance or admittance catheters are used for ventricular volume measurements, then measurement capability is improved, but device complexity and procedural invasiveness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines ventricular volume measurement electrodes directly into the intravascular blood pump device by attaching an electrode assembly patch to the pump housing. This integration eliminates the need for separate dedicated conductance or admittance catheters, thereby maintaining measurement capability while reducing device complexity and procedural invasiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The intravascular blood pump device is enhanced with multi-functionality by incorporating electrodes that enable both blood pumping and ventricular volume measurement through a single integrated device, eliminating the need for additional specialized catheters.
2Measurement precision
If electrode assembly patch is attached to intravascular blood pump, then measurement capability is improved, but adhesion and alignment stability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode assembly patch is designed with a curved or contoured shape that conforms to the cylindrical surface of the intravascular blood pump housing. This curvature ensures proper contact and alignment of electrodes with the pump surface, maintaining adhesion stability and measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode assembly patch utilizes a flexible substrate that can conform to the pump housing surface while maintaining electrode alignment. The flexible thin film structure ensures reliable adhesion and stable electrode positioning during device operation.
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
Enables continuous ventricular volume measurement, facilitating improved cardiac performance assessment and unloading by generating pressure-volume loops, without altering the pump's profile or functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a first electrode tab extending outwardly and away from the strip, the first electrode tab configured to provide a current to an ambient fluid
Implementation Method 2
a second electrode tab spaced from the first electrode tab, the second electrode tab extending outwardly and away from the strip, the second electrode tab configured to measure voltage in the ambient fluid
Implementation Method 3
a third electrode tab spaced from the second electrode tab, the third electrode tab extending outwardly and away from the strip, the third electrode tab configured to measure voltage in the ambient fluid
Implementation Method 4
a fourth electrode tab spaced from the third tab, the fourth electrode tab extending outwardly and away from the strip, the fourth electrode tab configured to provide a current to the ambient fluid
Data Source
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AI summary
Electrode assembly patches configured for conductance and admittance measurements, and methods of manufacturing same. The present technology provides designs and manufacturing methods that may enable a conductance or admittance electrode assembly patches to be flexible, low-profile, and easily applied to an intravascular blood pump or other device, such that there may be little or no change to the device's overall diameter, profile, and functionality.