Flexible Circuit Ablation Catheter for Targeted Cardiac Electroporation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ablation techniques such as RF ablation and cryoablation indiscriminately damage healthy tissue during cardiac procedures, while irreversible electroporation lacks effective devices for precise tissue ablation.

Innovation Solution

A catheter with a tubular outer shaft and an electrode assembly featuring a flexible circuit and support member, covered by an electrically insulative coating, is used for precise cardiac tissue ablation through irreversible electroporation, ensuring targeted tissue damage without affecting surrounding cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If thermal ablation techniques (RF ablation or cryoablation) are used to destroy targeted tissue, then the ablation effectiveness is improved, but healthy surrounding tissue is damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveablation effectivenessVSAvoiddamage to healthy tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter employs multiple independently controllable electrode segments that can be selectively activated to deliver electroporation energy only to specific targeted regions. Each electrode segment can be independently controlled to create localized ablation zones, allowing precise destruction of pathological tissue while preserving adjacent healthy tissue through selective energy delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If irreversible electroporation is used to selectively kill targeted cells, then damage to non-targeted tissue is reduced, but effective ablation devices are lacking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage to non-targeted tissueVSAvoiddevice development challenge

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is divided into multiple electrode segments arranged in a splined configuration, with each segment capable of independent electrical stimulation. This segmentation allows the device to create multiple discrete electroporation zones along the catheter length, enabling selective ablation of different tissue regions through independent control of each electrode segment's voltage and pulse parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter employs a composite structure combining flexible circuit boards with conductive support members. The flexible circuit board provides electrical connectivity and signal distribution, while the conductive support members serve as electrode elements. This composite design integrates multiple material properties to achieve both structural flexibility and electrical functionality required for irreversible electroporation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible circuit board is used in the electrode assembly, then device adaptability is improved, but electrical insulation requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode assembly flexibilityVSAvoidelectrical insulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter uses an insulating coating as an intermediary layer between the conductive support members and the flexible circuit board traces. This dielectric coating prevents unwanted electrical coupling and capacitive interference between adjacent conductive elements, ensuring that electrical energy is delivered only through the intended electrode-tissue interface while maintaining the flexibility and adaptability of the circuit board structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 catheter enables safe and effective ablation of cardiac tissue by using high voltage pulses, minimizing damage to non-targeted tissues and enhancing treatment precision.

Implementation Method 1

In irreversible electroporation, trains of short, high voltage pulses are used to generate electric fields that are strong enough to kill cells through apoptosis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIrreversible electroporation: Electrical Impedance Tomography

Implementation Method 2

The support member includes an electrically conductive base member covered by an electrically insulative coating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Dielectric

Data Source

PatentUS20250352256A1Mapping and ablating catheters using flexible circuit boards on support members

Publication Date: 2025.11.20 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC

AI summary

A catheter for ablating cardiac tissue through irreversible electroporation, the catheter comprising a flexible circuit having a plurality of flex circuit branches and including an outwardly-facing ablation electrode including a plurality of ablation electrode branches extending proximally along a portion of a respective one of the flex circuit branches, and a support member having a plurality of support member branches, wherein the support member includes an electrically conductive base member covered by an electrically insulative coating, wherein each of the flex circuit branches is secured to a respective one of the support member branches, and the ablation electrode is electrically coupled to the electrically conductive base member.