Flexible Circuit Electrodes for Lasso Catheter Signal Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lasso catheters with ring electrodes are inefficient in simultaneously measuring electro-anatomical signals from cardiac tissue and surrounding blood, leading to increased procedure time and cost due to the complexity of assembling ring electrodes.
Innovation Solution
The use of an electrode assembly featuring a flexible substrate with a plurality of electrical leads and electrodes, wrapped around a spine member to form a lasso catheter, allowing for simultaneous tissue contact and blood signal acquisition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ring electrodes are used on a lasso catheter, then electrical signals can be measured, but the assembly process becomes difficult and time-consuming, increasing procedure time and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple ring electrodes into a single integrated flexible substrate with multiple electrodes, eliminating the need for separate assembly operations. The flexible substrate is pre-configured with multiple electrodes that can simultaneously contact tissue and blood, merging what would otherwise require multiple separate assembly steps into a single integrated component.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible substrate with multiple electrodes serves multiple functions simultaneously: it can measure electro-anatomical signals from tissue, acquire electrical signals from surrounding blood, and maintain flexibility for catheter manipulation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized components, reducing both assembly time and procedure time.
2Measurement precision
If ring electrodes are assembled on a lasso catheter, then electrical measurement capability is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple ring electrodes are merged into a single flexible substrate component, reducing the number of separate parts that need to be assembled. The flexible substrate integrates multiple electrodes, wiring, and connection structures into one manufacturable unit, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of a flexible substrate as a thin-film-based platform simplifies manufacturing compared to rigid ring electrode assemblies. The flexible substrate can be manufactured using standard PCB or thin-film techniques, allowing for simpler, more cost-effective production while maintaining the required electrical measurement capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If ring electrodes are used, then tissue contact is achieved, but simultaneous blood signal acquisition is not possible, reducing mapping effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible substrate is configured to wrap around the catheter spine in a three-dimensional arrangement, allowing electrodes to simultaneously contact tissue on the inner surface and blood on the outer surface. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions enables simultaneous acquisition of both tissue and blood electrical signals, improving mapping effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible substrate is designed to dynamically adapt its configuration during catheter deployment, allowing the electrodes to maintain optimal contact with both tissue and blood surfaces. The flexibility enables the substrate to conform to the catheter's three-dimensional geometry, ensuring simultaneous signal acquisition from both compartments.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~2D
AI summary
An electrode assembly for a medical device can include a flexible substrate extending along a plane with a plurality of electrical leads extending along at least a portion of the flexible substrate. The electrode assembly can further include a plurality of electrodes disposed on the flexible substrate. Each electrode of the plurality of electrodes can be electrically connected to at least one electrical lead of the plurality of electrical leads. The plurality of electrodes can be positioned on the flexible substrate such, that when the electrode assembly is wrapped around an end effector member wrapped about a longitudinal axis to define a lasso catheter, at least some of the electrodes of the plurality of electrodes are positioned on a side of a lasso catheter facing away from the longitudinal axis extending through a lasso catheter.