Electroporation Catheter Impedance Control to Limit Arcing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electroporation systems experience arcing issues due to the formation of insulating gas layers on catheter electrodes, which can lead to undesired electrical arcs and potential tissue damage.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that includes delivering a calibration shock, measuring current and voltage, calculating impedance, and adding a bridge impedance in series with the catheter to prevent arcing during electroporation procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high voltage is applied to deliver therapeutic shock, then electroporation efficacy is improved, but arcing risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a calibration shock delivery before the actual therapeutic shock to measure the impedance of the catheter-tissue interface. Based on this preliminary measurement, the system calculates and sets an appropriate series impedance to prevent arcing during subsequent high-voltage therapeutic shocks, thereby maintaining electroporation efficacy while reducing arcing risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a controllable series impedance (bridge impedance) as an intermediary element between the power source and the catheter. This impedance acts as a mediator that limits the current during high-voltage pulses, preventing direct arcing while still allowing sufficient current to flow through the tissue to achieve the desired electroporation effect.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If series impedance is added to limit arcing, then arcing is reduced, but current delivery capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary calibration shock to measure the actual impedance characteristics of the catheter and tissue interface. Based on this measurement, it calculates the optimal bridge impedance value that will limit arcing while preserving sufficient current delivery capability for effective electroporation, rather than using a fixed or overly conservative impedance value.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the series impedance parameter based on measured calibration data. By changing the impedance value to match the specific catheter-tissue configuration, the system optimizes the balance between limiting arcing and maintaining adequate current delivery capability for the therapeutic application.
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 method effectively limits arcing, ensuring consistent and improved patient outcomes by maintaining therapeutic efficacy while reducing the risk of electrical arcs.
Implementation Method 1
calculating, using a processing device, a calibration shock impedance based on the delivered current and the delivered voltage
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides methods and systems for limiting arcing during an electroporation procedure. A method includes delivering a calibration shock using a catheter, measuring a current delivered during the calibration shock and a voltage delivered during the calibration shock, calculating, using a processing device, a calibration shock impedance based on the delivered current and the delivered voltage, calculating, using the processing device, a bridge impedance based on the calibration shock impedance and a target impedance, wherein the bridge impedance is a difference between the calibration shock impedance and the target impedance, adding an impedance in series with the catheter, the impedance being greater than or equal to the bridge impedance, and delivering a therapeutic shock using the catheter in series with the added impedance.