Endovascular Electrode Assembly Layout for Outward Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical stimulation devices face challenges in efficiently delivering therapy to specific target tissues while minimizing adverse side effects and maintaining a low profile for endovascular delivery, due to issues with electrode assembly rotation and interference with expandable structures.
Innovation Solution
The electrode assemblies are designed with structural features that facilitate mechanical coupling and electrical insulation, allowing them to be oriented radially outward from the expandable structure, reducing rotation and interference, and are formed using multiple manufacturing processes to maintain a low profile and enhance directional therapy efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrode assemblies are attached to expandable structure, then directional orientation and therapy efficacy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode assembly is divided into separate functional components: an expandable structure with struts, electrode attachment elements with structural features, and electrode assemblies that can be fabricated separately and then coupled together. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining directional orientation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Structural features are pre-formed on the expandable structure during manufacturing, including projections or other coupling elements that will later receive the electrode assemblies. This preliminary preparation ensures that when electrodes are attached, their orientation is predetermined and controlled, reducing the need for complex adjustment mechanisms.
2Ease of manufacture
If electrode assemblies are made separately and attached later, then manufacturing flexibility and property selection are improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable structure incorporates localized structural features at specific attachment points, such as projections or recesses, that provide precise mechanical coupling geometry. These local features ensure accurate positioning and orientation of electrode assemblies without requiring high precision throughout the entire structure, enabling separate fabrication with controlled attachment accuracy.
3Strength
If structural features are added to facilitate coupling, then mechanical coupling strength is improved, but interference with expandable structure transformation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The structural features for mechanical coupling are integrated within or as part of the expandable structure's struts and framework. The electrode attachment elements are nested within the overall expandable structure geometry, allowing the structure to expand and transform while maintaining secure electrode attachment without significant interference.
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, an endovascular medical device system includes an elongated body configured to be introduced in a blood vessel of a patient. The system includes an expandable structure at a distal portion of the elongated body. The expandable structure includes an expandable body portion including a plurality of interconnected struts and a plurality of electrode attachment elements. The system further includes one or more electrode assemblies mechanically coupled to the expandable structure via the electrode attachment elements. Each electrode assembly includes an electrically conductive portion and an electrically insulative portion. The electrically insulative portion of each respective electrode assembly is configured to facilitate mechanical coupling of the respective electrode assembly to the expandable structure. In some examples, the electrode attachment elements of the expandable structure are configured to orient respective electrode assemblies such that the electrically conductive portion of each electrode assembly faces radially outward from the expandable structure.