Conformal, non-occluding sensor array for cardiac mapping and ablation

1. A device with improved structural conformity, comprising:

a first polymer substrate having a first surface coupled to a conductive layer forming a conductive trace electrically coupled to a conductive pad exposed through a second surface of the first polymer substrate via an opening in the first polymer substrate;

a second polymer substrate forming a first cavity between the first polymer substrate and the second polymer substrate; and

a first inlet portion that receives a fluid that expands the first cavity causing the device to at least partially conform to an anatomical structure,

wherein the conductive pad detects a signal from the anatomical structure.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer substrate, the second polymer substrate, and the first inlet portion form a first soft-electronic beam of a plurality of soft-electronic beams, and wherein the plurality of soft-electronic beams form a three-dimensional structure that conforms to the anatomical structure responsive to receiving the fluid.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the three-dimensional structure formed by the plurality of soft-electronic beams is at least one of a star configuration, a sphere configuration, a linear configuration, a conical configuration, or a cylindrical configuration.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first polymer or the second polymer comprise at least one of a urethane polymer, a polyurethane polymer, a copolymer, a silicone polymer, or an elastomer.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive trace provides the signal detected by the conductive pad to a catheter that transmits the signal to an external measurement device.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive trace is coupled to a portion of a flexible printed-circuit board substrate that is coupled to at least one of the first polymer substrate or the second polymer substrate.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the conductive pad or the conductive trace is electrically coupled to a sensor comprising at least one of a force sensor, a shear sensor, an ultrasound senor, a thermal sensor, a position sensor, an electrocardiogram sensor, or an electrochemical sensor.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the sensor is coupled to at least one of the first polymer substrate, the second polymer substrate, or a flexible printed-circuit board layer coupled to the conductive layer and to at least one of the first polymer substrate or the second polymer substrate.

9. The device of claim 7 , wherein the second polymer substrate is coupled to a second conductive trace electrically coupled to a second conductive pad; and wherein the second conductive pad is coupled to a second sensor comprising at least one of a force sensor, a shear sensor, an ultrasound senor, a thermal sensor, a position sensor, an electrocardiogram sensor, or an electrochemical sensor.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive trace is patterned in at least one of a serpentine pattern, a linear pattern, a curved pattern, or a zig-zag pattern, wherein the conductive trace stretches in response to the first inlet portion receiving the fluid that expands the first cavity.

11. A method of detecting signals using an expandable measurement device, comprising:

positioning a measurement device within an internal anatomical structure of a patient, the measurement device comprising:

a first polymer substrate having a first surface coupled to a conductive layer forming a conductive trace electrically coupled to a conductive pad exposed through a second surface of the first polymer substrate via an opening in the first polymer substrate;

a second polymer substrate secured to the first polymer substrate and forming a first cavity between the first polymer substrate and the second polymer substrate; and

a first inlet portion coupled to a lumen that receives a fluid that expands the first cavity;

providing, via the lumen, a first amount of the fluid that causes the measurement device to expand by a volume corresponding to the first amount of fluid, wherein the conductive pad detects a signal from the internal anatomical structure via the opening responsive to expanding the first cavity; and

monitoring, responsive to providing the first amount of the fluid via the lumen, using a measurement device, the signal detected by the conductive pad.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining that the signal from the internal anatomical structure is not detected by the conductive pad responsive providing the first amount of the fluid; and

providing, responsive to the determination that the signal is not detected, a second amount of the fluid that causes the cavity to a size larger than the size of the cavity after providing the first amount of the fluid.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein monitoring the signal using the measurement device further comprises measuring at least one of a force value, a shear force value, an ultrasound value, a temperature value, a position value, an electrocardiogram value, or an electrochemical value.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the first amount of fluid comprises determining the first amount of the fluid based on at least one of a type of the internal anatomical structure, a volume of the measurement device, or information from an image of the internal anatomical structure.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the internal anatomical structure is an atrium of a heart of the patient, and wherein positioning the measurement device within the internal tissue structure is performed using at least a transseptal puncture.