RF Ablation Catheter Sensor Isolation via Segmented PCB
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RF ablation catheters face challenges in accurately measuring tissue temperature due to heat influence from metalized printed circuit board (PCB) tips, leading to potential collateral thermal damage during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A thermally and electromagnetically insulated temperature sensor assembly is integrated into a void within a thermally conductive multilayer PCB catheter tip, using thermally insulating layers and a heat conductive path to isolate the sensor from the PCB, ensuring accurate tissue temperature measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a metalized PCB tip is used for RF ablation, then thermal conductivity and ablation effectiveness are improved, but heat influence on temperature sensors increases causing measurement inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The PCB tip is segmented into multiple functional layers including thermally conductive layers for ablation and thermally insulating layers for sensor protection. This segmentation allows different regions to serve different purposes: the outer metalized layers conduct heat for effective ablation while the inner insulating layers isolate the temperature sensor from thermal interference.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermally insulating layers are introduced as intermediary elements between the heat-generating PCB tip and the temperature sensor. These intermediate layers block heat transfer to the sensor while allowing the sensor to accurately measure tissue temperature through the catheter wall, thus mediating the thermal interaction.
2Speed
If temperature sensors are integrated close to the PCB tip for real-time monitoring, then measurement responsiveness is improved, but thermal interference from the tip increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is nested within a protective structure formed by multiple insulating layers that are embedded within the PCB tip architecture. This nested configuration allows the sensor to be positioned close to the ablation site for responsive monitoring while being protected by concentric insulating barriers that filter out thermal interference from the metalized tip.
3Measurement precision
If thermally insulating layers are added to protect the sensor, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating layers serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide thermal insulation to protect the sensor, acts as structural support within the PCB architecture, and facilitate the electrical connection scheme. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved measurement accuracy.
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 solution minimizes heat influence from the catheter tip, providing accurate tissue temperature monitoring and reducing clinical side effects like collateral thermal damage during RF ablation.
Implementation Method 1
one or more thermally insulating layers that surround a volume of the temperature sensor excluding one facet of the volume
Implementation Method 2
a heat conductive layer covering the excluded facet
Data Source
AI summary
A tip electrode of a catheter includes an outer wall and a temperature sensor assembly. The outer wall includes a thermally conductive multilayer printed circuit board (TCM-PCB) that includes a void. The temperature sensor assembly, which is fitted in the void of the TCM-PCB, includes a temperature sensor, one or more thermally insulating layers that surround a volume of the temperature sensor excluding one facet of the volume, and a heat conductive layer covering the excluded facet.