Expandable Electroporation Balloon for Conformal Tissue Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional endoscopic medical devices often fail to conform to the size and shape of target tissues, leading to damage or destruction of non-targeted tissues and trauma to surrounding tissues during energy application procedures.

Innovation Solution

A medical system comprising a shaft with a balloon attached to its distal end, which can expand to conform to target sites, and electrodes positioned both inside and outside the balloon to apply electrical energy effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional rigid probe is used to apply energy to target tissue, then the probe can deliver energy effectively, but it cannot conform to irregularly shaped target sites and may damage non-targeted tissue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconformability to target siteVSAvoiddamage to non-targeted tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The probe incorporates a balloon that can dynamically change its shape and size by inflating and deflating. When inflated, the balloon conforms to the irregular shape of the target site (e.g., sphincter or trigone region), allowing the electrodes to contact only the intended tissue. This dynamic adaptation eliminates the need to move the probe to different locations and prevents damage to surrounding non-targeted tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The probe uses a flexible balloon shell that can deform to match the contours of irregularly shaped target sites. The balloon acts as a flexible interface between the rigid probe structure and the soft tissue, enabling conformable contact without requiring the probe itself to be flexible or movable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Manufacturing precision

If the probe size does not match the target site size or shape, then the tool must be moved to different locations to treat the entire target, but this movement causes trauma to surrounding tissue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage of target siteVSAvoidtrauma to surrounding tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than moving the probe to different locations, the balloon dynamically expands to cover the entire target site in one position. The inflatable design allows the treatment area to be adjusted by controlling the inflation level, ensuring complete coverage of irregularly shaped targets without relocating the probe and causing additional trauma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If electrodes are placed only outside the balloon, then the structure is simpler, but the electrical field distribution may not be optimal for treating irregularly shaped targets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode configurationVSAvoidenergy application precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The probe employs different electrode configurations in different locations: electrodes outside the balloon for general field creation and electrodes inside the balloon for localized precision treatment. This local differentiation of electrode placement allows optimization of the electrical field distribution to match the irregular geometry of the target site, improving energy application precision without excessive overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 system enables precise application of energy to target tissues while minimizing damage to non-targeted tissues, thanks to the balloon's ability to conform to irregular shapes and the strategic placement of electrodes.

Implementation Method 1

a balloon configured to move between an expanded state and a deflated state wherein a maximum diameter of the balloon is greater in the expanded state than in the deflated state

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic expansion: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

at least one electrode attached to the shaft, wherein a portion of the balloon includes a plurality of apertures fluidly connecting an interior of the balloon to an exterior of the balloon

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS20250161670A1Expandable electroporation devices and methods of use

Publication Date: 2025.05.22 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC

AI summary

A medical system includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a balloon attached to the distal end of the shaft, the balloon movable between an expanded state and a deflated state where a maximum diameter of the balloon is greater in the expanded state than in the deflated state, and an electrode is attached to the shaft where a portion of the balloon includes a plurality of apertures fluidly connecting an interior of the balloon to an exterior of the balloon.