Grooved Steroid Eluting Pacing Tip Electrode

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing implantable cardiac stimulation devices face challenges in efficiently delivering pacing, defibrillation, and cardioversion therapies due to high threshold current levels and potential displacement of electrode tips, which can affect the effectiveness and longevity of treatment.

Innovation Solution

The development of a tip electrode with grooves or cut-out regions that facilitate the elution of medical compounds and promote tissue ingrowth, reducing displacement and focusing current streams to lower threshold current levels for therapy delivery, while maintaining structural integrity and allowing passage of guidewires or stylets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a solid electrode tip is used, then structural integrity is maintained, but medical compound elution and tissue ingrowth are prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedical compound elutionVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode tip incorporates grooves and cut-out regions that create a porous structure, enabling medical compound elution and tissue ingrowth while preserving sufficient structural integrity through the remaining electrode material

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Area of stationary object

If current is applied to a large electrode surface, then coverage area is increased, but threshold current levels remain high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode surface areaVSAvoidthreshold current level

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode tip features localized sharp edges at the cut-out regions that concentrate current density at specific points, enabling effective therapy delivery at lower threshold current levels while maintaining adequate overall electrode surface area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The sharp edges created by cut-out regions act as current focal points, similar to how curved surfaces concentrate fields, thereby reducing the overall current required to achieve therapeutic effect

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the electrode tip is made hollow to allow guidewire passage, then guidewire insertion is enabled, but structural strength is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguidewire passage capabilityVSAvoidelectrode tip strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode tip is segmented with cut-out regions that create hollow spaces for guidewire passage while maintaining sufficient structural integrity through the remaining electrode material sections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If grooves and cut-out regions are added to the electrode tip, then medical compound elution and tissue ingrowth are promoted, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue ingrowth capabilityVSAvoidelectrode tip structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode tip structure is segmented into regions with grooves and cut-outs, creating a modular design that facilitates medical compound elution and tissue ingrowth while maintaining manufacturability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 design enhances the efficacy of pacing, defibrillation, and cardioversion therapies by reducing the required current levels and minimizing electrode tip displacement, thereby improving treatment outcomes and device stability within the heart.

Implementation Method 1

The grooves and cut out regions in the tip electrode also promote edge effects in applying a shock to the adjacent tissue. The edges in the tip electrode focus the current streams resulting in lower threshold current levels for carrying out therapy such as pacing, defibrillation and cardioversion.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEdge effects: Electric Field

Implementation Method 2

a tip electrode with a set of grooves or cut out regions to allow elution of a medical compound housed within the tip

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElution: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS8175723B2Steroid eluting pacing tip electrode

Publication Date: 2012.05.08 PACESETTER INC

AI summary

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) including a set of leads having electrodes disposed therein. The electrodes may include a weld electrode connected to an internal wire of the lead and the ICD and a tip electrode. The tip electrode may have a set of grooves or cut out regions in its outer surface to provide edge effects for currents applied through the tip electrode. The grooves or cut out regions may form gaps in the surface of the tip electrode exposing a medical compound that is housed within the tip electrode. The medical compound may elute through the gaps.