Expandable Ablation Electrode for Varying Lumen Sizes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ablation techniques for treating internal body lumens face inefficiencies due to the need for multiple devices to accommodate varying lumen sizes and require multiple repositioning steps, leading to decreased accuracy and efficiency in treating target sites.
Innovation Solution
An ablation device with an expansion member and an ablation structure that includes longitudinal electrodes, which can unfurl and furl around the expansion member, allowing for selective energy delivery to varying body lumen sizes and utilizing protection elements to prevent distension and ensure accurate placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are utilized to accommodate different sized lumens, then adaptability to varying lumen sizes is improved, but device complexity and treatment efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation device incorporates an expandable ablation structure that can dynamically change its configuration from a compressed state for insertion to an expanded state for treatment. This dynamic transformation allows a single device to adapt to different lumen sizes without requiring multiple separate devices, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a universal ablation device that can treat multiple lumen sizes through its expandable design. The single device performs multiple functions by adjusting its expansion state, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices and simplifying the overall system while maintaining broad adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple repositioning steps are performed to treat target sites, then treatment coverage is improved, but treatment accuracy and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation structure is divided into multiple independently controllable electrode zones along its length. This segmentation allows different portions of the ablation structure to be activated selectively based on the treatment requirements, enabling precise treatment of specific target sites without requiring repositioning of the entire device, thereby maintaining accuracy while improving coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from treating a single location to treating multiple locations along the longitudinal dimension of the ablation structure. By activating different electrode zones at different positions along the structure, the system achieves comprehensive treatment coverage without sacrificing accuracy, eliminating the need for multiple repositioning steps.
3Device complexity
If conventional ablation devices are used, then simplicity of device structure is maintained, but treatment efficiency and accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation structure's ability to expand and compress dynamically enables a single device to handle multiple lumen sizes efficiently. This dynamic capability improves treatment efficiency by eliminating the need for multiple devices and multiple repositioning steps, while the structured design maintains reasonable complexity to achieve these performance gains.
4Reliability
If protection elements are added to prevent distension, then safety and placement accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Protection elements are integrated as intermediary components between the ablation structure and the lumen wall. These elements mediate the interaction by preventing direct contact that could cause distension or damage, while ensuring accurate placement. The protection elements are designed to be removable or retractable, minimizing their impact on overall device complexity while maintaining safety and placement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for providing treatment to a tissue in body lumens are described. The system may include a catheter, an expansion member coupled with a distal portion of the catheter, an ablation structure including one or more longitudinal electrode segments, and an ablation structure support coupled to the ablation structure configured to at least partially unfurl as the expansion member expands and furl as the expansion member contracts. The ablation structure may include multiple separately wired and/or separately controlled longitudinal electrodes, longitudinal electrode zones, or both, such that each longitudinal electrode or longitudinal electrode zone may be selectively enabled or selectively disabled. In some instances, one or more springs are coupled to the ablation structure configured to promote unfurl or furl around the expansion member. In some instances, one or more protection elements are be positioned along the catheter.