Flexible Circuit Conductive Mesh for Crack-Resistant Transducers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible circuit structures used in intravascular or percutaneous medical procedures face challenges due to varying stiffness, leading to cracks and open circuits during flexing, which can render transducers unusable and impact the effectiveness of treatments like tissue ablation.
Innovation Solution
The development of flexible circuit structures with an electrically nonconductive substrate and conductive layers featuring resistive elements and conductive meshes that provide redundant and failure-tolerant electrical connections, ensuring continued operation even if some portions of the circuit are impaired.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flexible circuit structures are used in intravascular or percutaneous procedures, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but varying stiffness causes cracks and open circuits during flexing, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating redundant conductive paths and interconnections before the circuit undergoes flexing or potential damage. The multiple conductors and alternative routing are pre-established so that if one path fails due to cracking, the circuit maintains functionality through pre-planned alternative paths, preventing complete circuit failure during flexing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by designing the circuit with redundant conductors and parallel paths that act as a buffer against failure. When stress or cracking occurs in one conductor, the redundant paths absorb the functional impact, cushioning the overall circuit system from complete failure and maintaining operational reliability during flexing
2Reliability
If transducers are positioned within the body via catheter, then patient risk and recovery time are reduced, but the flexible circuit structure undergoes flexing that can cause cracks and open circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the conductor configuration in different regions of the flexible circuit. High-stress areas undergoes flexing, the circuit incorporates redundant conductors and alternative paths, while other regions use standard configurations. This localized adaptation to stress conditions reduces crack propagation and maintains transducer operation reliability despite repeated flexing during catheter-based procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing redundant conductive paths and interconnections before the circuit is subjected to flexing stresses during body insertion. These pre-planned alternative routes ensure that if stress forces cause cracking in one area, the circuit maintains functionality through pre-existing alternative paths, protecting transducer operation throughout the procedure
Data Source
AI summary
Some aspects of this disclosure generally are related to improving the robustness of a flexible circuit structure, for example, by providing fault-tolerant electrical pathways for flow of electric current through the flexible circuit structure. In some embodiments, such fault tolerance is enhanced by way of a conductive mesh provided between an adjacent pair of resistive elements. Some aspects are related to improved voltage, current, or voltage and current measurement associated with various pairs of adjacent resistive elements at least when the various pairs have differing distances between them.