Stretchable Integrated Circuitry for Conformal Tissue Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical sensing and therapeutic devices are limited by their rigid nature, which prevents them from achieving direct or conformal contact with human tissue, compromising measurement accuracy and treatment effectiveness due to tissue shape and size changes.

Innovation Solution

The development of stretchable and flexible electronics integrated into expandable substrates allows for conformal contact with tissues, enabling improved sensing and therapeutic delivery by using stretchable circuitry that remains functional on flexible or inflatable surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rigid medical sensing and therapeutic devices are used, then device structural stability is maintained, but the ability to achieve direct or conformal contact with human tissue is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structural stabilityVSAvoidability to achieve conformal contact with tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible substrates and thin film structures to create medical devices that can conform to irregular tissue surfaces. The flexible substrate supports integrated circuitry while allowing the device to adapt to the contours of human tissue, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and conformal contact capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic elements that allow the device to change its shape or configuration in response to tissue morphology. This enables the device to maintain structural integrity while adapting its form to achieve direct contact with varying tissue surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If rigid devices are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but measurement accuracy and treatment effectiveness are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible substrate and thin film construction enable the device to conform to tissue surfaces, improving measurement accuracy while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes through established flexible electronics fabrication techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If stretchable circuitry is implemented, then conformal contact with tissue is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconformal contact capabilityVSAvoidcircuitry complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses flexible substrates and thin film encapsulation techniques to protect and support stretchable circuitry, enabling conformal contact capability while managing the inherent complexity through standardized flexible electronics approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates curved and three-dimensional circuit layouts that follow tissue contours. This curvature-based design enables the circuitry to adapt to irregular surfaces while maintaining functional integration, balancing conformal contact capability with manageable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS10186546B2Systems, methods, and devices having stretchable integrated circuitry for sensing and delivering therapy

Publication Date: 2019.01.22 MEDIDATA SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

System, devices and methods are presented that integrate stretchable or flexible circuitry, including arrays of active devices for enhanced sensing, diagnostic, and therapeutic capabilities. The invention enables conformal sensing contact with tissues of interest, such as the inner wall of a lumen, a the brain, or the surface of the heart. Such direct, conformal contact increases accuracy of measurement and delivery of therapy. Further, the invention enables the incorporation of both sensing and therapeutic devices on the same substrate allowing for faster treatment of diseased tissue and fewer devices to perform the same procedure.