Guide Wire Electrode Segmentation for Flexible Plasma Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide wires for plasma ablation therapies lack flexibility at the distal end portion, compromising safety and usability due to the need for a larger return electrode surface area, which is not addressed in current designs.
Innovation Solution
A guide wire design featuring a conductive coil body with a protruding portion and a distal tip, covered by insulating tubes, where the protruding portion and distal tip form an electrode, increasing the effective electrode surface area without compromising flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the return electrode surface area is increased to enable correct plasma generation, then plasma ablation effectiveness is improved, but the flexibility of the distal end portion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The return electrode is segmented into a proximal electrode portion and a distal electrode portion separated by an insulating section. This segmentation allows the proximal portion to provide sufficient surface area for reliable plasma generation while the distal portion maintains flexibility for safe navigation through blood vessels.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the guide wire are assigned different functional properties: the proximal end features a larger surface area electrode for effective plasma ablation, while the distal end features a flexible structure with smaller surface area for safe navigation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between needing large surface area for plasma generation and small/flexible structure for safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the guide wire structure is made more flexible to improve safety, then the risk of blood vessel perforation is reduced, but the electrode surface area decreases affecting plasma generation
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is divided into segmented portions with an insulating section between them. This allows the distal flexible portion to minimize perforation risk while the proximal portion maintains sufficient surface area for effective plasma ablation, resolving the contradiction between flexibility for safety and surface area for treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
An insulating section acts as an intermediary element between the proximal and distal electrode portions. This insulating section enables the distal portion to be flexible and safe while the proximal portion provides adequate surface area for plasma generation, mediating between the conflicting requirements of safety and treatment effectiveness.
3Reliability
If a larger return electrode is used to generate plasma correctly, then ablation performance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using a single large electrode that would compromise flexibility, the electrode is segmented into multiple portions with an insulating section. This segmentation achieves the necessary effective surface area for plasma generation while maintaining overall device simplicity and distal flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode configuration extends along the longitudinal dimension of the guide wire with separated portions, rather than concentrating surface area in a single location. This dimensional arrangement allows sufficient surface area for plasma ablation while maintaining device simplicity and flexibility.
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 design enhances flexibility and safety by maintaining the guide wire's distal end portion's flexibility and reducing the risk of blood vessel perforation, while improving plasma generation and visibility in X-ray images.
Implementation Method 1
a potential difference is generated between a distal end electrode provided on a distal end portion of the plasma guide wire and the return electrode provided on the guide wire, this potential difference causes a streamer corona discharge between the two electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
A guide wire includes: a conductive core shaft; a conductive coil body surrounding a distal end portion of the core shaft; a conductive distal tip joined to a distal end of the core shaft and a distal end of the coil body; and an insulating tube made of a resin and covering a proximal end portion of the coil body and a proximal end portion the core shaft. The coil body has: a covered portion covered by the insulating tube; and a protruding portion protruding from a distal end of the insulating tube toward the distal tip, and the protruding portion of the coil body and the distal tip constitute an electrode portion for plasma ablation.