Thermocouple Mesh Array for Medical Device Thermal Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical devices for thermally affecting tissue lack comprehensive temperature monitoring, leading to incomplete assessments and potential unintended thermal damage due to limited sensor coverage, especially when treating large tissue areas.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with a thermocouple array arranged as a mesh or wire structure around a thermal element, providing multiple temperature measurement points across a substantial portion of the thermal element and tissue region, coupled with a console for monitoring and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single temperature sensor is used on the catheter, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and completeness of thermal monitoring is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature monitoring function is segmented into multiple independent thermocouple sensors distributed across the catheter surface. Each thermocouple measures temperature at a specific location, and the collective data from all segments provides comprehensive thermal monitoring of the entire treatment area, resolving the contradiction between measurement completeness and device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from single-point temperature measurement to multi-point spatial temperature mapping by arranging thermocouples in a distributed pattern across the catheter surface. This dimensional expansion from 0D (single point) to 2D/3D (surface distribution) enables comprehensive thermal assessment without proportionally increasing system complexity.
2Reliability
If temperature sensors are placed only inside the device or on a small portion, then the device complexity is minimized, but the measurement coverage and reliability of thermal assessment is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter surface is segmented into multiple measurement zones, each equipped with thermocouples. This segmentation ensures that temperature variations across different regions (including edges and center) are captured independently, providing reliable thermal assessment that accounts for non-uniform heat distribution during ablation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the catheter surface are equipped with temperature sensors according to their specific functional requirements. The thermocouple distribution pattern optimizes local measurement quality at each position, ensuring that areas with higher thermal gradients or critical importance receive appropriate monitoring density, thereby enhancing overall assessment reliability.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive temperature monitoring across the entire thermal element is implemented, then the measurement precision and safety are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process is segmented into modular steps: thermocouple wire cutting, individual thermocouple assembly, and systematic attachment to the catheter surface. This segmentation of the manufacturing process makes the complex task of creating a comprehensive sensor array more manageable and reproducible, reducing manufacturing difficulty while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermocouple array is configured in a planar or three-dimensional pattern that optimizes manufacturing efficiency. By arranging sensors in regular geometric patterns or along predefined trajectories on the catheter surface, the invention simplifies the manufacturing process while achieving comprehensive spatial coverage for accurate thermal assessment.
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
Enables accurate and comprehensive thermal monitoring, ensuring effective ablation treatments by providing detailed thermal interaction data between the device and tissue, reducing the risk of thermal damage.
Implementation Method 1
The thermocouple array may include one or more insulated thermocouple segments, where portions of the insulation are removed at desired locations for providing a temperature measurement at that particular position
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention includes a medical device providing for the measurement and/or monitoring of the thermal conditions and/or environment existing across a substantial portion of a thermal element disposed on the medical device and the corresponding tissue region being treated by the device. The medical device of the present invention may generally include an elongate body having a thermal element coupled thereto for providing thermal energy to a desired tissue region, as well as a thermocouple array providing a plurality of temperature measurement positions about the thermal element. The thermocouple array may include one or more thermocouple elements arranged as a mesh or wire structure disposed about a substantial portion of the surface area of the thermal element.