Tissue Ablation Apparatus with Electrochemical Impedance Bubble Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pulsed electric field ablation techniques for treating arrhythmia lack real-time monitoring capabilities for trace bubbles in blood, which poses a risk of stroke due to heat generation and electrochemical reactions.
Innovation Solution
A tissue ablation apparatus and electrochemical impedance measurement apparatus that includes a high-voltage pulse module, Faraday current detection module, differential sampling module, voltage processing module, high-frequency sampling module, and a main control module, which together enable real-time detection of Faraday currents and voltage differences to calculate electrochemical impedance parameters and control bubble generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-voltage pulsed electric field is applied to achieve tissue ablation, then tissue selectivity is improved, but heat generation and bubble formation increase causing safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time feedback monitoring of bubble generation during pulsed electric field ablation. Sensors detect bubble formation and the system automatically adjusts or terminates the pulse delivery, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents excessive heat generation and bubble formation while maintaining tissue selectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical/thermal monitoring with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement. By measuring impedance changes in the tissue-electrode interface, the system indirectly monitors bubble formation and tissue conditions without direct contact with bubbles or thermal sensors, enabling real-time detection and control.
2Productivity
If pulse energy is increased to improve ablation effectiveness, then ablation efficiency is improved, but bubble generation increases posing stroke risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors bubble generation during ablation and provides real-time feedback to control the pulse energy delivery. When bubble formation is detected, the system automatically reduces or pauses pulse delivery, enabling safe operation at high energy levels while preventing excessive bubble generation that could cause stroke.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts pulse parameters (voltage, width, interval) based on real-time tissue conditions and bubble detection. The system changes parameters adaptively during the ablation process to maintain effectiveness while minimizing bubble formation, rather than using fixed parameters throughout.
3Reliability
If real-time bubble monitoring is implemented to ensure patient safety, then patient safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the existing electrode-tissue interface and electrochemical impedance measurement system for multiple purposes: both for ablation delivery and for real-time bubble monitoring. This multi-functional approach allows bubble detection without adding separate dedicated monitoring hardware, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical bubble detection systems with electrochemical impedance measurement. By measuring electrical impedance changes at the electrode-tissue interface, the system detects bubble formation through electrical properties rather than mechanical sensors, simplifying the monitoring system while maintaining real-time capability.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If pulse parameters are adjusted to control bubble generation, then bubble control is improved, but real-time monitoring capability is required which increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements real-time feedback monitoring of bubble generation during pulsed electric field ablation. Sensors detect bubble formation and the system automatically adjusts or terminates the pulse delivery, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents excessive heat generation and bubble formation while maintaining tissue selectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical/thermal monitoring with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement. By measuring impedance changes in the tissue-electrode interface, the system indirectly monitors bubble formation and tissue conditions without direct contact with bubbles or thermal sensors, enabling real-time detection and control.
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 real-time monitoring and control of bubble generation during tissue ablation, ensuring patient safety by adjusting pulse energy and parameters based on detected electrochemical impedance parameters.
Implementation Method 1
a Faraday current detection module, arranged between the high-voltage pulse module and the first electrode and the second electrode, and configured to generate a sampling signal based on a current flowing through the first electrode and a current flowing through the second electrode
Implementation Method 2
Pulsed electric field ablation has been proposed in recent years, which is a novel tissue ablation approach based on physical energy factors and mainly relies on irreversible electroporation. According to this approach, a high-voltage pulsed electric field is applied to cells to induce irreversible electroporation of cell membranes that leads to cell death
Implementation Method 3
The generation of bubbles during discharge in the blood is not only caused by the heat generated by the electrode, but is also mainly due to an electrochemical reaction that occurs between the electrode and blood (as an electrolyte solution). When the electrochemical reaction occurs between the electrode and the blood interface, hydrogen or oxygen is generated.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a tissue ablation apparatus and an electrochemical impedance measurement apparatus and method. In the present application, a Faraday current participating in an electrochemical reaction of a target tissue and a voltage difference between a first output end and a second output end of a high-voltage pulse module are detected in real time, a corresponding electrochemical impedance parameter of the target tissue can be obtained according to an electrochemical impedance fitting function, and the amount of bubbles generated during ablation of the target tissue can be obtained according to the electrochemical impedance parameter of the target tissue, so that feedback control can be implemented for an outputted high-voltage pulse signal, to control the amount of generated bubbles in a timely manner.