Oriented Irreversible Electroporation Pulses for Myocardial Cell Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing invasive medical probes for irreversible electroporation (IRE) lack the ability to precisely control the orientation of electric fields in tissue, which is crucial for effectively treating cardiac arrhythmia due to the non-spherical shape and varying orientation of myocardial cells.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an IRE pulse generator, a switching assembly, and a processor that allows for the selection and connection of multiple electrode pairs on a catheter to apply IRE pulses in specific orientations, compensating for the orientation of myocardial cells by applying bi-phasic IRE pulses along orthogonal or prespecified directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multi-electrode catheters are used for IRE treatment, then the ability to deliver electroporation energy to tissue is improved, but the precision of electric field orientation control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter electrode is divided into multiple independently controllable electrode segments arranged circumferentially. Each segment can be independently activated to form different electrode pairs, enabling precise control of electric field orientation in multiple directions while maintaining the ability to deliver high power IRE energy to the tissue.
2Reliability
If multiple electrode pairs are used to achieve different orientations, then the tissue selectivity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The same set of electrode segments serves multiple functions: they can be combined in different pairs to generate electric fields in multiple orientations (0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, etc.), eliminating the need for separate electrode assemblies for each orientation while achieving high tissue selectivity through precise orientation control.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the electric field orientation is optimized to match myocardial cell orientation, then the voltage amplitude required is reduced, but the measurement precision of cell orientation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring precise measurement of the exact myocardial cell orientation, the system applies IRE pulses at multiple standard orientations (0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, etc.). This excessive application of orientations ensures that at least one orientation will be sufficiently aligned with the myocardial cells to achieve effective treatment at reduced voltage amplitude, without requiring precise orientation detection.
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 approach enhances tissue selectivity and improves the clinical outcome of IRE treatments by optimizing the electric field orientation, reducing the voltage amplitude required, and ensuring effective cell death in myocardial tissue.
Implementation Method 1
irreversible electroporation (IRE) to cause cell death in treated tumors. The method encompasses the use of multiple electrodes and different voltages applied for each electrode to precisely control the three-dimensional shape of the electric field for tissue ablation
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes an irreversible electroporation (IRE) pulse generator, a switching assembly, and a processor. The IRE pulse generator is configured to generate IRE pluses. The switching assembly is configured to deliver the IRE pulses to multiple electrodes that are disposed on an expandable distal end of a catheter that is placed in contact with tissue in an organ, for applying the IRE pulses to the tissue. The processor is configured to (a) receive one or more prespecified orientations along which electric fields in the tissue are to be generated by the IRE pulses, (b) select one or more pairs of the electrodes that would apply the IRE pulses at the prespecified orientations, and (c) connect the IRE pulse generator, using the switching assembly, to the selected pairs of the electrodes.