Implantable High Voltage Electrode with Ellipsoid Tip and Barbs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implantable electrodes face challenges in delivering high voltage energy to biological tissue without ionization and arcing, and they often fail to maintain stable positioning due to limited depth penetration and retention features.
Innovation Solution
A high voltage electrode with an ellipsoid tip and bi-directional barbs for secure positioning, designed to reduce ionization and ensure deep tissue implantation, featuring a shaft with a spherical tip and aft-facing barbs to prevent deeper penetration and forward-facing barbs to prevent withdrawal, allowing for stable energy delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the electrode delivers high voltage energy to biological tissue, then the energy delivery capability is improved, but ionization and arcing occur reducing delivery efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode tip is designed with a spherical geometry instead of a sharp point. This curved surface distributes the electrical charge more uniformly across the tip, preventing charge concentration that would lead to ionization and arcing. The spherical shape maintains high voltage delivery capability while reducing energy loss to ionization by eliminating sharp points where electric field intensity would be excessively high.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the electrode is made thin to minimize tissue displacement, then the tissue displacement is reduced, but the charge distribution at the tip increases causing ionization
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical tip geometry redistributes the electrical charge across a curved surface area rather than concentrating it at a sharp point. This maintains a thin profile for minimal tissue displacement while the spherical curvature ensures adequate charge distribution to prevent ionization and arcing.
3Reliability
If retention features are added to prevent electrode migration, then the retention capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is segmented with multiple discrete barbs distributed along its length rather than using a single complex retention mechanism. These barbs are simple protrusions that engage with tissue to prevent both over-insertion and withdrawal. This segmented approach provides reliable retention while maintaining relatively simple device construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The barbs are configured with asymmetric orientation - they protrude outward from the shaft surface at angles that provide resistance to both forward and backward movement. This asymmetric geometry enables bidirectional retention (preventing both over-penetration and withdrawal) without requiring complex mechanical structures.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the electrode allows varied depth implantation, then the adaptability is improved, but the stability of positioning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple barbs distributed along the shaft provide retention at various positions, allowing the electrode to be implanted at different depths while maintaining stability. The segmented retention features engage with tissue at different locations along the shaft, securing the electrode regardless of implantation depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The bidirectional barbs provide asymmetric resistance to movement in both directions (forward and backward), creating a stable positioning mechanism that works effectively across a range of implantation depths. The asymmetric geometry allows the electrode to settle into a stable position while still accommodating varied depth requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable high voltage electrode includes a shaft having a first end and a second end and an ellipsoid tip disposed at the first end. A terminal is disposed at the second end and the terminal in in electrical communication with the ellipsoid tip. At least a first forward facing barb and at least a first aft facing barb disposed on an exterior face of the shaft. The at least first forward facing bard and the at least first aft facing barb are configured to limit movement of the electrode when implanted in biological tissue.