Expandable Circumferential Electrodes for Uniform Vessel Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrode systems struggle to maintain constant and uniform contact with varying and irregularly shaped treatment areas, particularly in body vessels, leading to inconsistent delivery of high-field electric pulses.
Innovation Solution
The development of electrodes that can conform to varying and irregularly shaped treatment areas, including features such as adjustable electrodes and expandable frames, which are deployed from a catheter to deliver sub-microsecond pulsed electrical fields, ensuring uniform contact and minimizing damage to non-targeted regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional rigid electrodes are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the electrodes cannot maintain constant and uniform contact with varying and irregularly shaped treatment areas
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode system employs dynamically adjustable electrodes that can change their configuration and position to adapt to varying treatment area geometries. The electrodes transition from a collapsed delivery state to an expanded treatment state, allowing them to maintain uniform contact with irregular surfaces through active adjustment rather than rigid fixed positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode system changes its physical parameters (shape, size, position) in response to the treatment area characteristics. By adjusting electrode expansion radius, inter-electrode spacing, and contact pressure, the system maintains optimal uniform contact across varying anatomical geometries, transforming from a static to a dynamically adaptable configuration.
2Reliability
If high-field electric pulses are delivered to treat irregularly shaped areas, then the treatment effectiveness is improved, but the delivery consistency becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensing capabilities that detect the actual contact conditions and geometric parameters of the treatment area. This feedback information is used to adjust electrode positioning and configuration in real-time, ensuring that high-field electric pulses are delivered with consistent precision despite variations in anatomical geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode system dynamically adjusts its configuration based on detected treatment area characteristics, enabling consistent pulse delivery across irregular geometries. The ability to modify electrode position, orientation, and spacing in response to anatomical variations ensures treatment effectiveness while maintaining delivery consistency.
3Reliability
If sub-microsecond pulsed electrical fields are applied, then the apoptosis induction in targeted cells is achieved, but the thermal damage to surrounding tissue must be minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The system delivers electrical energy in the form of sub-microsecond periodic pulses rather than continuous waveforms. This pulsed delivery mode allows targeted cellular apoptosis induction during the pulse duration while providing thermal dissipation intervals between pulses, thereby minimizing cumulative thermal damage to surrounding non-targeted tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The system precisely controls pulse duration parameters in the sub-microsecond range to achieve selective cellular effects. By adjusting pulse width, amplitude, and frequency, the system maximizes apoptotic induction in targeted cells while keeping thermal energy deposition below thresholds that would cause damaging heating of surrounding tissue.
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 solution enables safe and reliable delivery of high-field electric pulses, inducing apoptosis in targeted cells while minimizing thermal damage to surrounding tissue, effectively treating irregularly shaped body vessels and lumens.
Implementation Method 1
deliver sub-microsecond pulsed electrical fields
Implementation Method 2
inducing apoptosis in targeted cells
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for providing pulsed electrical treatment (including high voltage, sub-microsecond pulsed electric energy) to body vessels. The apparatus may include deployable electrodes that conform to transitional surfaces. These apparatuses may include expandable frames with basket-shaped electrode assemblies.