Double-Sided PCB Electrodes for Catheter Far-Field Signal Cancellation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing catheter designs face challenges in distinguishing diagnostic electrophysiological signals from interfering far-field signals, particularly in conditions like atrial fibrillation, where ventricular bio-electric signals overlap with atrial signals, making it difficult to identify and analyze diagnostic atrial signals.

Innovation Solution

The use of a correlated arrangement of diagnostic and reference electrodes, where the reference electrodes are electrically isolated from tissue and only acquire far-field signals, allowing for subtraction of interfering signals from diagnostic electrodes to isolate the desired tissue signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If diagnostic electrodes are used to detect electrophysiological signals, then diagnostic information can be obtained, but far-field interfering signals contaminate the diagnostic signals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic signal detectionVSAvoidfar-field interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is divided into multiple functional components: diagnostic electrodes for detecting near-field signals, reference electrodes for detecting far-field signals, and a processor for signal separation. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's function and enables effective signal contamination removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Reference electrodes serve as intermediaries that specifically detect far-field signals without contacting tissue. These reference signals are then used by the processor as mediators to subtract and remove far-field interference from the diagnostic signals, isolating the pure diagnostic information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If reference electrodes are electrically isolated from tissue, then far-field signals can be accurately acquired, but the complexity of the electrode arrangement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefar-field signal acquisitionVSAvoidelectrode arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reference electrodes perform multiple functions: they detect far-field signals, provide reference potentials for signal processing, and enable cancellation of far-field interference. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single component design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The solution moves from a single-dimensional electrode detection to a multi-dimensional signal processing approach by introducing reference electrodes in a spatial arrangement that enables independent far-field measurement, allowing signal separation through dimensional expansion of the measurement space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If multiple electrodes are arranged on the catheter, then signal differentiation capability improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal differentiationVSAvoidcatheter assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple electrodes (diagnostic and reference) are merged into a single integrated catheter assembly with unified housing and coordinated positioning. This merging simplifies manufacturing by treating all electrodes as part of one system rather than separate components, while maintaining the ability to differentiate between signal types through their spatial arrangement and functional programming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 improves EP diagnostics by effectively canceling out far-field interference, reducing the risk of side effects such as stroke, and providing clearer diagnostic signals.

Implementation Method 1

reference electrodes, which are electrically isolated from tissue but electrically contact blood, and acquire only the interfering far-field signals conducted by blood

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP4401517B1Electrodes on double-sided printed circuit board (PCB) to cancel far-field signal

Publication Date: 2026.01.28 BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISRAEL) LTD

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AI summary

A medical apparatus includes a shaft for insertion into an organ of a patient, an expandable frame, a plurality of diagnostic electrodes, a respective plurality of reference electrodes, and a processor. The expandable frame is coupled to a distal end of the shaft, extending along a longitudinal axis and including a plurality of expandable spines disposed about the longitudinal axis. The plurality of diagnostic electrodes, disposed on external surfaces of the expandable spines, are configured to sense diagnostic signals when in contact with tissue. The respective plurality of reference electrodes, disposed on internal surfaces of the expandable spines directly opposite the diagnostic electrodes, is electrically insulated from the tissue and is configured to sense interfering signals. The processor is configured to receive the diagnostic signals sensed by the diagnostic electrodes, receive the interfering signals sensed by the respective reference electrodes, and calculate corrected diagnostic signals by subtracting the interfering signals from the diagnostic signals.