Return Electrode Placement Using Accelerometer Feedback in IRE

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The location of the return electrode in unipolar irreversible electroporation (IRE) procedures affects muscle spasms during ablation, necessitating a method to determine optimal placement to minimize movement and ensure effective pulse delivery.

Innovation Solution

A body surface electrode with an integrated accelerometer measures muscle contractions and spasms to identify suitable locations for placement, using 'test' pulses to analyze movement data and determine optimal positions for minimal muscle activity during IRE procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the return electrode is placed on the body for unipolar IRE procedures, then current return path is established, but muscle spasms and body movement occur during pulse delivery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent return pathVSAvoidmuscle spasms

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary testing by delivering test pulses at different electrode locations before the actual IRE procedure. The accelerometer measures muscle contractions during these test pulses, and the system identifies optimal locations in advance that minimize muscle spasms during full treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses real-time feedback from the accelerometer to measure body movement and muscle contractions. This feedback is used to evaluate different electrode locations and select the optimal position that minimizes harmful muscle spasms while maintaining effective current delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple electrode locations are tested to find optimal placement, then muscle spasm minimization is achieved, but procedure time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemuscle spasmsVSAvoidprocedure time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system tests a limited number of predetermined electrode locations rather than exhaustively testing all possible positions. This partial testing approach is sufficient to identify optimal locations while minimizing the time added to the procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 minimizes muscle spasms and ensures effective IRE procedures by identifying locations with minimal movement, enhancing the efficacy of irreversible electroporation treatments.

Implementation Method 1

A body surface electrode with an integrated accelerometer measures muscle contractions and spasms to identify suitable locations for placement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAccelerometer: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a soft tissue ablation technique that applies short pulses of strong electrical fields to create permanent and hence lethal nanopores in the cell membrane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIrreversible electroporation:

Data Source

PatentUS12533186B2Method and system for optimizing return electrode location on the body for irreversible electroporation (IRE) procedures

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISRAEL) LTD

AI summary

The present disclosed subject matter provides a return electrode, such as a body surface electrode, which includes an accelerometer, for detecting movement of the body at and proximate to the location of the return electrode. The body movement results from pulses from an Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) pulse generator which are delivered to the return electrode, by a pulse delivery electrode. The data associated with the body movement at each location on the body of the return electrode, is used to determine suitable, and in some cases optimal, locations for return electrodes for IRE procedures.