Electrode Placement Systems for Mechanical Stress Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical devices for visualizing and treating tissue regions within the body, such as the heart, face challenges due to mechanical stresses, limited imaging capabilities, and difficulties in maintaining reliable electrical communication, especially in environments with dynamic forces and opaque bodily fluids like blood.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable tissue visualization and treatment device with a collapsible and expandable hood that utilizes a distensible substrate and robust electrode placement and electrical connection assemblies to withstand mechanical stresses, allowing for real-time imaging and treatment while maintaining electrical communication through a system of conductive traces and electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the balloon is inflated to a large size for imaging, then the imaging area is increased, but the surrounding tissue is displaced and fine positioning is interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system is divided into multiple components: the balloon catheter for positioning, the optical fiber for imaging, and the external imaging device. This segmentation allows the balloon to be inflated to a moderate size for adequate imaging area while maintaining precise control through the catheter's flexible positioning capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
An optical fiber is used as an intermediary to transmit images from the balloon's imaging area to the external display. This allows the imaging area to be adequately sized while the thin optical fiber minimizes interference with fine positioning operations.
2Illumination intensity
If the balloon is inflated for imaging, then the tissue region can be visualized, but the constant pressure changes during cardiac cycles affect the balloon volume and positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates pressure sensing capabilities that provide feedback on the cardiac cycle phase and balloon pressure. This feedback allows for real-time adjustment of the balloon inflation level to maintain optimal imaging conditions despite varying cardiac pressure changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The balloon's inflation level and the imaging device's parameters are dynamically adjusted in response to detected pressure changes during cardiac cycles, maintaining stable imaging conditions throughout the cardiac cycle.
3Measurement precision
If conventional imaging modalities like CT and MRI are used, then detailed tissue images can be obtained, but real-time imaging for intra-operative procedures is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces external mechanical imaging systems (CT, MRI) with an intravascular optical imaging system using optical fibers. This substitution enables real-time imaging directly within the heart chamber, eliminating the time delay between imaging and treatment while maintaining sufficient tissue detail for intra-operative procedures.
4Ease of operation
If fluoroscopic imaging is used to identify anatomic landmarks, then the tissue location can be visualized, but the tissue quality and surface cannot be accurately imaged
Solution Approach 1:
An optical fiber acts as an intermediary to transmit light from the tissue surface directly to the external imaging device. This allows accurate visualization of tissue quality and surface details while the catheter system provides the necessary positioning and stabilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of thin-film optical fibers and flexible catheter materials enables close contact with the tissue surface for high-quality imaging while maintaining the ability to navigate and position the device accurately within the cardiac chamber.
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 effective visualization and treatment of tissue regions within the body, particularly in the heart, by providing clear images and allowing for precise therapeutic interventions with minimal trauma and efficient fluid use, while maintaining reliable electrical communication during device reconfiguration.
Implementation Method 1
maintains electrical communication through conductive traces and connections
Implementation Method 2
reconfigurable tissue visualization and treatment device with a collapsible and expandable hood that utilizes a distensible substrate
Data Source
AI summary
Electrode placement and connection systems are described which allow for the electrical connection and maintenance of one or more electrodes positioned on a substrate which is subjected to a variety of mechanical stresses. Such a system may include an imaging hood having an aperture through which transparent fluid is flowed and one or more electrodes positioned along or about the hood. As the hood is configured between a low-profile and opened configuration, these electrodes may remain electrically coupled despite the mechanical stresses subjected to the electrodes and the connections thereto.