Sequential Electrode-Pair Activation for Low-Heat IRE Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing irreversible electroporation (IRE) techniques face challenges in delivering bipolar IRE pulses over a large tissue region without causing thermal damage to electrodes and tissue due to Joule heating, which can lead to electrode overheating and char formation.
Innovation Solution
A processor-controlled switching assembly is used to sequentially energize different pairs of electrodes on a multi-electrode catheter, interleaving activations with predefined time gaps to prevent overheating, ensuring continuous spatial ablation while maintaining uniform electric field strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple electrode-pairs are activated simultaneously to cover large tissue regions, then ablation coverage is improved, but electrode overheating and thermal damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter electrodes are segmented into multiple pairs that can be activated independently. The system divides the ablation task into smaller units (individual electrode-pairs) that can be processed sequentially, allowing each pair to cool down between activations while maintaining overall coverage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic activation patterns where electrode-pairs are activated in sequences with controlled intervals. By alternating between different electrode-pairs and introducing predefined time gaps, the system maintains continuous ablation capability while allowing thermal dissipation during transition periods.
2Temperature
If sequential activation of electrode-pairs with time gaps is implemented, then electrode overheating is prevented, but treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic activation patterns with optimized intervals between electrode-pair activations. By rhythmically switching between different pairs with controlled timing, the system prevents overheating while minimizing idle time, achieving a balance between thermal safety and treatment efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The sequential activation protocol ensures that while one electrode-pair is being activated, other pairs are prepared or in transition, maintaining continuous ablation coverage. The predefined time gaps are optimized to be just sufficient for thermal dissipation without creating unnecessary delays, keeping the overall treatment process continuous and efficient.
3Productivity
If all electrode-pairs are activated simultaneously, then treatment efficiency is improved, but thermal damage to tissue and electrodes occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the electrode array into multiple independently controllable pairs, allowing selective activation. This segmentation enables the system to activate only the necessary pairs for current treatment coverage, avoiding simultaneous activation of all pairs and the associated thermal damage while maintaining high treatment efficiency through optimized pair selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic, alternating activation of different electrode-pairs rather than continuous simultaneous activation. This rhythmic activation pattern maintains treatment efficiency by systematically working through all pairs while introducing thermal management intervals, preventing tissue and electrode thermal damage without significantly reducing overall productivity.
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 sequential activation of electrode-pairs prevents electrode overheating and thermal damage, providing safer and more effective IRE ablation treatments across large tissue regions.
Implementation Method 1
irreversible electroporation (IRE) of an intra body tissue
Implementation Method 2
the intensity (pulse voltage, frequency, number, and/or duration) of the electroporation protocol is limited by a requirement to avoid localized heating leading to thermal damage
Implementation Method 3
delivering bipolar IRE pulses over a large tissue region without causing thermal damage to electrodes and tissue due to Joule heating
Data Source
AI summary
An irreversible electroporation (IRE) method includes placing multiple electrodes of a catheter in contact with tissue of an organ. Bipolar IRE pulses are generated. The tissue is ablated by applying the bipolar IRE pulses to pairs of the electrodes, in accordance with an order in which successive activations of a given electrode-pair are interleaved with activation of at least one other electrode-pair, and are spaced in time by at least a predefined duration.