Multielectrode Catheter Electrode Arrays for Uniform Field Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical catheters with identical electrodes generate non-uniform electric fields, leading to inconsistent therapeutic effects due to the influence of neighboring electrodes and inter-electrode spacing, which can result in asymmetric lesion volumes and therapeutic inconsistencies.
Innovation Solution
Designing a catheter with electrodes that differ in specific characteristics, such as length, surface area, thickness, orientation, or conductivity, to generate either uniform or asymmetric electric fields based on therapeutic needs, ensuring consistent therapeutic outcomes by modifying electrode properties to match the desired field distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If identical electrodes are used in the catheter array, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the electric field distribution becomes non-uniform due to neighboring electrode influence, leading to inconsistent therapeutic effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making each electrode unique in characteristics such as surface area, geometry, or conductivity. Specifically, electrodes are designed with different surface areas (e.g., varying circumferences or lengths) so that each electrode generates a consistent electric field strength at its respective treatment site, compensating for the influence of neighboring electrodes and achieving uniform therapeutic effect across all treatment zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying electrode characteristics (surface area, geometry, conductivity) to optimize electric field distribution. By adjusting these parameters, the patent achieves substantially equal electric field strengths from each electrode despite differences in their positions and spacing, thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and therapeutic consistency.
2Productivity
If electrodes are spaced closer together to treat more tissue areas, then the productivity increases, but the electric field distribution becomes more non-uniform due to increased neighboring electrode influence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different characteristics to electrodes based on their positions and spacing. Electrodes with closer spacing are designed with different surface areas or geometries compared to more widely spaced electrodes, ensuring that each electrode compensates for its specific environmental conditions and generates a consistent electric field strength, thereby maintaining field uniformity while increasing tissue coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by adjusting electrode properties (such as surface area or conductivity) according to the spacing between electrodes. This allows the system to maintain uniform electric field distribution even when electrodes are placed closer together to increase productivity and treat more tissue areas.
3Reliability
If electrode characteristics are varied to achieve uniform electric fields, then the therapeutic consistency improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making each electrode unique in characteristics such as surface area, geometry, or conductivity. This approach achieves uniform electric field distribution and consistent therapeutic effects across all treatment sites, while the complexity is managed by implementing these variations during the manufacturing design phase rather than requiring complex control systems during operation.
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
The modified electrode characteristics allow for the generation of either uniform or asymmetric electric fields, resulting in consistent lesion volumes and therapeutic effects tailored to the tissue properties and anatomy, enhancing treatment efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
delivery of an electrical signal via the at least one intermediate electrode and the at least one of the distal electrode or the proximal electrode generates, for a given tissue site, a substantially uniform electric field or, in some cases, a substantially asymmetric electric field
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a catheter includes an elongated member comprising an electrode array including a distal electrode, a proximal electrode proximal to the distal electrode, and at least one intermediate electrode between the proximal and distal electrodes. The at least one intermediate electrode and at least one of the distal electrode or the proximal electrode differ in at least one electrode characteristic by at least a predetermined threshold. In some examples, delivery of a given electrical signal by each of the at least one intermediate electrode and the at least one of the distal electrode or the proximal electrode generates, for a given tissue site, substantially similar electric fields. In other examples, delivery of a given electrical signal by each of the at least one intermediate electrode and the at least one of the distal electrode or the proximal electrode generates, for a given tissue site, different electric fields.