Stretchable Flexible Electronics Conformal Tissue Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical sensing and therapeutic devices face limitations due to their rigid nature, which prevents them from achieving direct or conformal contact with body tissues, compromising measurement accuracy and treatment effectiveness, especially in areas like endoscopy, neurological treatments, and tissue screening.
Innovation Solution
The development of systems and methods utilizing stretchable and flexible integrated circuitry on expandable or inflatable substrates, allowing for conformal contact with body tissues and enabling improved sensing and therapeutic functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If rigid devices are used for medical sensing and treatment, then device structural stability is maintained, but the ability to achieve direct or conformal contact with body tissues is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible substrates and thin film electronics to create medical devices that can conform to irregular body surfaces. The flexible circuit boards and substrate materials enable the device to adapt to curved anatomical structures while maintaining electrical connectivity and sensing capabilities, directly resolving the contradiction between structural stability and conformal contact capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates expandable structures that can dynamically change their configuration. The device transitions from a compressed delivery state to an expanded operational state, allowing it to conform to body cavities and surfaces. This dynamic adaptability enables direct contact with tissues while maintaining structural integrity during the procedure
2Ease of manufacture
If rigid circuitry is used in medical devices, then manufacturing and assembly are simplified, but the device cannot accommodate dynamic body tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes flexible printed circuit boards and thin film electronic components that can be manufactured using standard flexible electronics fabrication processes. These flexible circuits maintain ease of manufacture through established manufacturing techniques while enabling the device to conform to dynamic body tissues, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and tissue adaptability
3Measurement precision
If stretchable electronics are not used, then device structure remains simple and rigid, but measurement accuracy on irregular surfaces is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin film flexible electronics that provide stretchability and conformability without significantly increasing device complexity. The thin film structure allows the device to conform to irregular surfaces for accurate sensing while maintaining a relatively simple overall device architecture, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates expandable structures that transition from a simple compressed state during delivery to an expanded conformal state during operation. This dynamic transformation enables accurate measurements on irregular surfaces without requiring a complex structure from the outset, as the complexity is introduced only when needed for the measurement function
Data Source
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 nerve bundle, or the surface of the heart. Such direct, conformal contact increases accuracy of measurement and delivery of therapy.