Expandable GI Ablation Catheter for Controlled Mucosal Depth

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for diabetes, such as gastric bypass surgery and device implantation, are invasive and carry significant risks, necessitating a less invasive method to treat gastrointestinal tissue effectively.

Innovation Solution

A device with an elongate shaft and radially expandable element delivers electrical energy to ablate mucosal tissue in the GI tract, minimizing damage to non-target tissues and allowing precise control over the ablation depth and area, using a system that can be advanced through an endoscope.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If major surgery or device implantation is performed to treat diabetes, then therapeutic effect is achieved, but invasiveness and risk of complications increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic effectVSAvoidinvasiveness and complications

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical surgical intervention with electrical energy delivery. The ablation element delivers electrical energy to create controlled lesions in GI tract tissue, substituting the mechanical cutting and stitching of gastric bypass surgery with a non-contact energy-based treatment that achieves similar therapeutic effects with minimal invasiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent controls the depth and extent of tissue ablation by adjusting electrical energy parameters (power, duration, frequency) rather than physically removing tissue. The radially expandable element allows control of treatment area by adjusting expansion radius, enabling precise parameter-based control over treatment zone without increasing invasiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If electrical energy is delivered to ablate mucosal tissue, then precise control over ablation depth is achieved, but risk of damaging non-target tissue increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveablation depth controlVSAvoiddamage to non-target tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different properties to different parts of the treatment system: the radially expandable element creates a localized treatment zone where electrical energy is concentrated at the mucosal-submucosal interface while sparing deeper tissues. The ablation element geometry and expandable element configuration ensure energy deposition is locally confined to the target tissue layer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces fluid or gel as an intermediary medium between the ablation element and tissue. This intermediary enhances electrical energy coupling to the target tissue while providing thermal conduction pathways that protect deeper non-target tissues from excessive heat, enabling precise depth control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Area of stationary object

If fluid is delivered into submucosal tissue to expand it, then treatment area is increased, but tissue distension and force application increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment areaVSAvoidtissue distension force

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls the expansion characteristics by adjusting fluid delivery parameters (flow rate, pressure, volume) rather than using mechanical force. The system delivers fluid at controlled rates to achieve gradual expansion of the submucosal space, increasing treatment area while maintaining forces within safe tissue tolerance limits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 device provides a less invasive treatment for diabetes by ablating targeted gastrointestinal tissue layers while avoiding damage to surrounding structures, offering controlled energy delivery and minimizing tissue distension and force application.

Implementation Method 1

an ablation element mounted to the radially expandable element and configured to deliver electrical energy to target tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

The device is configured to ablate mucosal tissue (e.g. duodenal mucosal tissue or other small intestine mucosal tissue)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAblation: Ablation

Data Source

PatentUS12558148B2Electrical energy ablation systems, devices and methods for the treatment of tissue

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 FRACTYL HEALTH INC

AI summary

A device for ablating target tissue of a patient with electrical energy is provided. An elongate shaft includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, and a radially expandable element is attached to the distal portion. An ablation element for delivering electrical energy to target tissue is mounted to the radially expandable element. The device can be constructed and arranged to ablate the duodenal mucosa of a patient while avoiding damage to the duodenal adventitial tissue. Systems and methods of treating target tissue are also provided.