Flexible Sheet Temperature Sensor for High-Density Catheter Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing temperature measurement devices for tubular organs, such as esophageal mapping catheters, face challenges in storing temperature sensors at high density due to their thick configuration, leading to gaps and difficulties in precise temperature monitoring during procedures like left atrial ablation.

Innovation Solution

A temperature measurement device featuring a flexible sheet with multiple temperature sensor elements arranged in a flexible configuration, allowing for high-density storage within a tube and deployment outside the tube, utilizing an expansion member like a balloon to ensure accurate temperature monitoring within tubular organs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If thick temperature sensors are used in esophageal mapping catheters, then temperature measurement capability is achieved, but the sensors cannot be stored at high density in the catheter due to gaps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature measurement capabilityVSAvoiddensity of temperature sensor elements

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by using a flexible sheet as the substrate for mounting temperature sensor elements. The sheet can be thin and flexible, allowing multiple sensor elements to be densely arranged on its surface while maintaining the ability to conform to the catheter's internal geometry. This resolves the contradiction by enabling high-density sensor placement without requiring thick individual sensor components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from one-dimensional linear sensor arrangements to two-dimensional planar arrangements on the flexible sheet. By utilizing the surface area of the sheet in multiple dimensions, the system can pack significantly more sensor elements into the same catheter volume, achieving high density while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If multiple temperature sensor elements are stored in a tube, then high-density storage is achieved, but the tube structure creates gaps that prevent proper sensor placement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedensity of temperature sensor elementsVSAvoidcontact with organ inner wall

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a deployable structure where the flexible sheet with sensor elements can transition from a compact stored state within the catheter to an expanded deployed state against the organ wall. This dynamic transformation allows the system to achieve both high-density storage during delivery and reliable contact during measurement, resolving the contradiction between storage density and operational reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible sheet with sensor elements is nested within the catheter structure during storage. This nesting arrangement allows the sensor array to be compactly housed within the limited catheter volume while maintaining the capability to expand outward for measurement, eliminating gaps and ensuring proper contact with the organ surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS20240393188A1Temperature measurement device

Publication Date: 2024.11.28 MURATA MFG CO LTD

AI summary

A temperature measurement device that includes: a tube; and a temperature sensor unit within the tube. The temperature sensor unit includes a flexible sheet and a plurality of temperature sensor elements on the flexible sheet.