Systems, methods, and devices using stretchable or flexible electronics for medical applications
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.
1. An apparatus comprising:
an inflatable substrate;
circuitry disposed on said substrate comprising an array of active devices, said circuitry including stretchable electrical interconnects that electrically interconnect the active devices of the array of active devices for the circuitry to remain functional upon inflation of the substrate, said array of active devices comprising sensing devices for detecting data indicative of a parameter associated with a tissue;
a processing facility in electronic communication with said circuitry, receiving said data indicative of said parameter associated with said tissue; and
an output facility in electronic communication with said processing facility, said processing facility configured to generate output data associated with said tissue and to cause said output facility to create said output data.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said substrate is stretchable.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said circuitry is in conformal contact with said tissue.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said circuitry is encapsulated with a thin polymer layer.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said circuitry is stretchable up to 300%.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said active devices are located discretely from one another.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said stretchable interconnects electrically connect said devices.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said sensing devices comprise temperature sensors.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said sensing devices comprise contact sensors.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said sensing devices comprise pressure sensors.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said sensing devices comprise ultrasound emitters and receivers.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said processing facility receives data generated by said sensing devices and produces an image of said tissue.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said sensing devices are configured to be in an active matrix.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said circuitry comprises at least one of an amplifier and a logic circuit to operate said sensing devices in said active matrix.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a multiplexer.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said substrate is a balloon coupled to a catheter guide wire, and said multiplexer is located at a base of said catheter guide wire.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said processing facility is within said circuitry.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said processing facility is separate from said circuitry.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said output data related to said tissue is a map.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein said map comprises a map of electrical activity of said tissue.
21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said output data comprises data related to temperature heterogeneity present in arterial plaque.
22. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said output data comprises an indication of plaque type.
23. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said circuitry comprises a therapeutic facility.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein said therapeutic facility is configured to ablate said tissue.
25. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said circuitry comprises light emitting electronics.
26. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said circuitry comprises an array of photodetectors in communication with said processing facility.
27. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein said processing facility is configured to generate an image of said tissue as the output data and to cause said output facility to output the image.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein said image is high resolution.
29. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein said circuitry is delivered via a catheter having a guide wire, and wherein said guide wire comprises a light source to provide light to said photodetectors.
30. The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein said light source is an optical fiber.
31. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said tissue is a pulmonary vein.
32. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said tissue is a septal wall of a heart.
33. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said tissue is an atrial surface of a heart.
34. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said tissue is a ventricular surface of a heart.
35. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises a reservoir in communication with a surface of said substrate.
36. The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein said circuitry is configured to open valves on the substrate to release a drug contained within said reservoir.
37. The apparatus of claim 36 , wherein said circuitry causes the valves to release said drug in a controlled manner.
38. An apparatus comprising:
an inflatable substrate;
circuitry disposed on said substrate comprising an array of active devices, said circuitry being configured to remain functional upon inflation of the substrate, said array of active devices comprising sensing devices for detecting data indicative of a parameter associated with a tissue, said sensing devices comprising ultrasound emitters and receivers;
a processing facility in electronic communication with said circuitry, receiving said data indicative of said parameter associated with said tissue; and
an output facility in electronic communication with said processing facility, said processing facility configured to generate output data associated with said tissue and to cause said output facility to create said output data.
39. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said substrate is stretchable.
40. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said circuitry is in conformal contact with said tissue.
41. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said circuitry is encapsulated with a thin polymer layer.
42. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said circuitry is stretchable up to 300%.
43. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said active devices are located discretely from one another.
44. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said circuitry comprises stretchable electrical interconnects.
45. The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein said stretchable interconnects electrically connect said devices.
46. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said sensing devices comprise temperature sensors.
47. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said sensing devices comprise contact sensors.
48. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said sensing devices comprise pressure sensors.
49. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said processing facility receives data generated by said sensing devices and produces an image of said tissue.
50. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said sensing devices are configured to be in an active matrix.
51. The apparatus of claim 50 , wherein said circuitry comprises at least one of an amplifier and a logic circuit to operate said sensing devices in said active matrix.
52. The apparatus of claim 38 , further comprising a multiplexer.
53. The apparatus of claim 52 , wherein said substrate is a balloon coupled to a catheter guide wire, and said multiplexer is located at a base of said catheter guide wire.
54. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said processing facility is within said circuitry.
55. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said processing facility is separate from said circuitry.
56. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said output data related to said tissue is a map.
57. The apparatus of claim 56 , wherein said map comprises a map of electrical activity of said tissue.
58. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said output data comprises data related to temperature heterogeneity present in arterial plaque.
59. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said output data comprises an indication of plaque type.
60. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said circuitry comprises a therapeutic facility.
61. The apparatus of claim 60 , wherein said therapeutic facility is configured to ablate said tissue.
62. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said circuitry comprises light emitting electronics.
63. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said circuitry comprises an array of photodetectors in communication with said processing facility.
64. The apparatus of claim 63 , wherein said processing facility is configured to generate an image of said tissue as the output data and to cause said output facility to output the image.
65. The apparatus of claim 64 , wherein said image is high resolution.
66. The apparatus of claim 63 , wherein said circuitry is delivered via a catheter having a guide wire, and wherein said guide wire comprises a light source to provide light to said photodetectors.
67. The apparatus of claim 66 , wherein said light source is an optical fiber.
68. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said tissue is a pulmonary vein.
69. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said tissue is a septal wall of a heart.
70. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said tissue is an atrial surface of a heart.
71. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said tissue is a ventricular surface of a heart.
72. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said substrate comprises a reservoir in communication with a surface of said substrate.
73. The apparatus of claim 72 , wherein said circuitry is configured to open valves on the substrate to release a drug contained within said reservoir.
74. The apparatus of claim 73 , wherein said circuitry causes the valves to release said drug in a controlled manner.