Far-Field Bipolar Ablation Electrode Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current RF ablation technologies for treating tissues in hollow organs face challenges such as suboptimal contact leading to skin lesions, risk of vital organ damage, and limited treatment area due to the need for multiple electrodes and wires, particularly in creating large, homogenous lesions.
Innovation Solution
The Far-Field-Bipolar ablation technique employs bipolar electrodes with equal surface areas positioned at a significant distance apart within the organ, using an expandable element to deploy and retract the electrodes, allowing for the creation of large, elongated lesions with reduced electrical propagation and fewer wires, eliminating the need for a dispersive electrode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If monopolar ablation with a dispersive electrode is used, then large treatment area is achieved, but skin lesions and burns may form due to suboptimal contact
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the dispersive electrode from the ablation system. By using bipolar electrodes positioned within the hollow organ, the current path is contained entirely within the organ, removing the need for a dispersive electrode on the patient's skin and thereby eliminating the risk of skin lesions and burns associated with monopolar ablation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bipolar electrode configuration acts as an intermediary that contains the current path within the target organ. The current flows between two electrodes both positioned inside the organ, using the organ's conductive properties as a natural pathway, thereby eliminating the need for external skin contact and associated harmful effects.
2Area of stationary object
If monopolar ablation is used, then large treatment area is achieved, but current may flow through different routes endangering vital organs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the dispersive electrode from the system and replaces it with a second bipolar electrode positioned within the hollow organ. This containment of both electrodes within the organ creates a controlled current path that cannot deviate to endanger vital organs, while still achieving large treatment areas through the far-field effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the spatial parameters of electrode placement by positioning bipolar electrodes at a significant distance apart within the organ (far-field configuration). This parameter change allows the current to distribute over a large volume of tissue, achieving extensive treatment while maintaining a controlled and predictable current path confined to the organ.
3Stability of the object's composition
If bipolar ablation with electrodes placed close together is used, then homogenous lesions are created, but large treatment area requires many electrodes and wires
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a near-field bipolar configuration (electrodes close together) to a far-field bipolar configuration (electrodes positioned at a significant distance apart, at least 10 times the electrode width). This dimensional change in electrode spacing allows a single pair of electrodes to treat large areas while maintaining lesion homogeneity through the distributed current field.
Solution Approach 2:
The far-field bipolar electrode configuration serves multiple functions simultaneously: it creates homogenous lesions, treats large surface areas, and does so with minimal wiring. The single pair of electrodes can be positioned to treat different regions of the organ, providing versatility without increasing device complexity.
4Area of stationary object
If bipolar ablation with many electrodes is used, then large treatment area is achieved, but device diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the electrode spacing from near-field to far-field configuration, positioning electrodes at a significant distance apart within the organ. This allows treatment of large surface areas using only two electrodes, thereby maintaining a small device diameter suitable for insertion into hollow organs while achieving extensive treatment coverage.
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
This approach enables safe, quick, and efficient creation of homogenous lesions with reduced ablation time, minimizing the risk of complications and improving treatment efficacy by allowing for extensive tissue modification with fewer wires and a lower profile device.
Implementation Method 1
RF ablation within body organs has been extensively described previously and is well known in the art
Implementation Method 2
an expandable element configured to radially expand the at least one set of bipolar electrodes from a folded or compressed position to a deployed position
Implementation Method 3
Devices and method for far field bipolar ablation
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes devices and methods for treating disorders in a hollow body organ by ablating the tissue therein. At least one set of bipolar electrodes is deployed in the hollow body organ to contact the inner wall of the organ. In the deployed position, each positive electrode is positioned in a location substantially opposite each negative electrode. The tissue contact areas of the positive and negative electrodes are substantially the same and the electrodes are separated from one another by a distance of at least 10 times the width of each of the electrodes. The electrodes thereby produce lesions that are substantially identical to one another and also similar to those produced with monopolar electrodes. The electrodes are used to produce an ablation pattern that can electrically isolate regions of the hollow body organ, thereby treating the disorder(s).