# US 9,894,756 B2 · Circuits for flexible structures

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- Number: US 9,894,756 B2
- Document ID: US9894756B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/366,422
- Filed: 2016-12-01
- Published: 2017-06-08
- Granted: 2018-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-08
- Assignees: Kardium Inc.
- Applicants: Kardium Inc.
- Inventors: Daniel Robert Weinkam; Shane Fredrick Miller-Tait; Fernando Luis de Souza Lopes
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9894756B2

## CPC

- H05K 1/028: {Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits (H05K1/0283 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/287: Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
- A61B 5/361: Detecting fibrillation
- A61B 18/1206: {Generators therefor}
- A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)}
- A61N 1/39: Heart defibrillators
- G01K 1/026: {arrangements for monitoring a plurality of temperatures, e.g. by multiplexing}
- G01K 7/16: using resistive elements
- G01K 13/20: Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
- H05K 1/115: {Via connections; Lands around holes or via connections (H05K1/112 takes precedence)}
- H05K 1/18: structurally associated with non-printed electric components (H05K1/16 takes precedence)
- A61B 2018/00267: {having a basket shaped structure}
- A61B 2018/00357: {Endocardium}
- A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation}
- A61B 2018/00702: {Power or energy}
- A61B 2018/00839: {Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG}
- A61B 2018/00988: {Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter}
- A61B 2562/166: the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
- A61N 1/056: {Transvascular endocardial electrode systems}
- H05K 1/167: {incorporating printed resistors}
- H05K 2201/09681: Mesh conductors, e.g. as a ground plane
- H05K 2201/0979: Redundant conductors or connections, i.e. more than one current path between two points
- H05K 2201/10151: Sensor
- H05K 2201/10507: Involving several components
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00)

## Abstract

Some aspects of this disclosure generally are related to improving the robustness of a flexible circuit structure, for example, by providing fault-tolerant electrical pathways for flow of electric current through the flexible circuit structure. In some embodiments, such fault tolerance is enhanced by way of a conductive mesh provided between an adjacent pair of resistive elements. Some aspects are related to improved voltage, current, or voltage and current measurement associated with various pairs of adjacent resistive elements at least when the various pairs have differing distances between them.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A flexible circuit structure comprising:
an electrically-nonconductive substrate; and
at least one electrically-conductive flexible circuit layer coupled, directly or indirectly, to the substrate, wherein the at least one electrically-conductive flexible circuit layer comprises conductive patterns including:
a plurality of resistive elements, each resistive element providing at least part of a respective one of a plurality of transducers; and
a plurality of conductive meshes,
wherein each conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes electrically connects at least a respective adjacent pair of resistive elements of the plurality of resistive elements, and
wherein the plurality of conductive meshes serially electrically connects the plurality of resistive elements to provide at least one electric current flow path through the plurality of resistive elements.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 1, wherein each conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes includes a plurality of electrical connection points to each resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 1, wherein each conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes includes a plurality of electrical pathways between the resistive elements of each respective adjacent pair of resistive elements, and wherein each conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes includes a plurality of electrical connection points, each electrical connection point electrically connecting at least two of the plurality of electrical pathways between the resistive elements of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 1, wherein each conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes includes a plurality of conductive segments spatially arranged to provide a plurality of electrical pathways between the resistive elements of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements, and each conductive segment of the plurality of conductive segments providing a respective portion of each of at least some of the plurality of electrical pathways.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 4, wherein each conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes includes a plurality of electrical connection points electrically connecting at least two of the plurality of conductive segments to one of the resistive elements of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrical connection points of at least a first conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes is located at least adjacent one resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements and is electrically connected to at least two of the plurality of electrical connection points associated with the first conductive mesh located at least adjacent the other resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements, the at least two of the plurality of electrical connection points not including any electrical connection point of the at least one of the plurality of electrical connection points.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrical connection points of at least a first conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes is located closer to one of the respective adjacent pairs of resistive elements than at least two of the plurality of electrical connection points associated with the first conductive mesh, and wherein the at least one of the plurality of electrical connection points is electrically connected to the at least two of the plurality of electrical connection points.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 5, wherein the plurality of electrical connection points of each of at least a first conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes comprises a respective first electrical connection point set at least adjacent one resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements and a respective second electrical connection point set at least adjacent the other resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements, the second electrical connection point set not including any electrical connection point of the first electrical connection point set, and
wherein a total of the plurality of electrical pathways provided by the plurality of conductive segments of the first conductive mesh exceeds a total of the respective first electrical connection point set of the first conductive mesh, and exceeds a total of the respective second electrical connection point set of the first conductive mesh.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 8, wherein the respective first electrical connection point set of the first conductive mesh, the respective second electrical connection point set of the first conductive mesh, or each of the respective first electrical connection point set of the first conductive mesh and the respective second electrical connection point set of the first conductive mesh comprises at least two electrical connection points.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 5, wherein the plurality of electrical connection points of each conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes comprises a respective first electrical connection point set at least adjacent one resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements and a respective second electrical connection point set at least adjacent the other resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements, the second electrical connection point set not including any electrical connection point of the first electrical connection point set, and
wherein, for each of at least a first conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes, at least a first one of the plurality of conductive segments of the first conductive mesh extends along a path extending from a particular electrical connection point in the respective first electrical connection point set to a particular electrical connection point in the respective second electrical connection point set, the path arranged to avoid intersection along the path between the first one of the plurality of conductive segments of the first conductive mesh and any other one of the plurality of conductive segments of the first conductive mesh.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 5, wherein the plurality of electrical connection points of each conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes comprises a respective first electrical connection point set at least adjacent one resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements and a respective second electrical connection point set at least adjacent the other resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements, the second electrical connection point set not including any electrical connection point of the first electrical connection point set, and
wherein, for each of at least a first conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes, each electrical pathway of at least some of the respective plurality of electrical pathways does not have a conductive segment in common with any other electrical pathway of the respective plurality of electrical pathways.

### Claim 12 (depends on 5)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 5, wherein the plurality of electrical connection points of each conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes comprises a respective first electrical connection point set at least adjacent one resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements and a respective second electrical connection point set at least adjacent the other resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements, the second electrical connection point set not including any electrical connection point of the first electrical connection point set, and
wherein, for each of at least a first conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes, a first electrical pathway of the respective plurality of electrical pathways extends from a particular electrical connection point in the first electrical connection point set to a particular electrical connection point in the second electrical connection point set through a single one of the plurality of conductive segments of the first conductive mesh.

### Claim 13 (depends on 5)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 5, wherein the plurality of electrical connection points of each conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes comprises a respective first electrical connection point set at least adjacent one resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements and a respective second electrical connection point set at least adjacent the other resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements, the second electrical connection point set not including any electrical connection point of the first electrical connection point set, and
wherein for each of at least a first conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes, at least a first group of the plurality of conductive segments of the first conductive mesh are arranged in a branched arrangement extending from a particular electrical connection point in the respective first electrical connection point set to each of at least two particular electrical connection points in the respective second electrical connection point set.

### Claim 14 (depends on 4)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 4, wherein the plurality of conductive segments of at least a first conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes includes a first conductive segment set and a second conductive segment set, wherein each segment in the first conductive segment set extends in a first direction and each segment in the second conductive segment set extends in a second direction, the first direction being perpendicular or oblique to the second direction, and wherein at least one of the conductive segments in the first conductive segment set intersects with at least one of the conductive segments in the second conductive segment set.

### Claim 15 (depends on 4)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 4, wherein, for each of at least a first conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes, each of at least some of the plurality of conductive segments of the first conductive mesh is arranged to provide an unbranched pathway extending continuously between a first resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements and a second resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements.

### Claim 16 (depends on 4)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 4, wherein, for each of a least a first conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes, at least some of the plurality of conductive segments of the first conductive mesh are arranged to provide a branched pathway extending continuously between a first resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements and a second resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 1, wherein each conductive mesh of at least some of the plurality of conductive meshes electrically connects the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements via a respective plurality of conductive segments, each conductive segment of at least some of the respective plurality of conductive segments not contacting any other conductive segment of the respective plurality of conductive segments in a region spanning an edge of a first resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements and an edge of a second resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 1, wherein each conductive mesh of at least some of the plurality of conductive meshes electrically connects the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements via a respective plurality of conductive segments, each conductive segment of at least some of the respective plurality of segments arranged to provide an unbranched pathway extending continuously between a first resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements and a second resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 1, wherein each conductive mesh of at least some of the plurality of conductive meshes electrically connects the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements via a respective plurality of conductive segments, a group of at least some of the respective plurality of conductive segments arranged to provide a branched pathway extending continuously between a first resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements and a second resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 1,
wherein each conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes includes a first electrical connection point set located at least adjacent a first resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements and a second electrical connection point set located at least adjacent a second resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements,
wherein each conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes electrically connects the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements via a respective plurality of electrical pathways electrically connected to a respective pair of electrical connections points of a plurality of pairs of electrical connection points, each respective pair of electrical connection points of the respective plurality of pairs of electrical connection points comprising a respective first electrical connection point from the first electrical connection point set and a respective second electrical connection point from the second electrical connection point set, and
wherein each respective pair of electrical connection points of the respective plurality of pairs of electrical connection points is different than every other pair of electrical connection points of the respective plurality of pairs of electrical connection points.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 1, wherein the electrically nonconductive substrate comprises a plurality of electrically nonconductive layers, and wherein the at least one electrically-conductive flexible circuit layer comprises a plurality of electrically-conductive flexible circuit layers that are interleaved with the plurality of electrically nonconductive layers.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 1,
wherein the plurality of resistive elements are temperature sensors,
wherein the at least one electrically-conductive flexible circuit layer comprises a plurality of electrically-conductive flexible circuit layers, and
wherein each of at least some of the plurality of conductive meshes electrically connects at least a respective adjacent pair of temperature sensors of the temperature sensors by at least one via arranged to electrically connect different ones of the electrically conductive flexible circuit layers.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 1,
wherein the at least one electrically-conductive flexible circuit layer comprises a plurality of electrically-conductive flexible circuit layers,
wherein at least a first one of the plurality of electrically-conductive flexible circuit layers includes an electrode, and
wherein at least a second one of the plurality of electrically-conductive flexible circuit layers comprises at least one resistive element of the plurality of resistive elements and at least one conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the one conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes spatially overlaps at least a portion of the electrode or is spatially overlapped by at least a portion of the electrode.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 1, comprising a plurality of measurement leads electrically connected to a measurement circuit, respective pairs of measurement leads of the plurality of measurement leads positioned to sense voltage across, or current flowing through each resistive element of at least some the plurality of resistive elements.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 25, wherein each of the plurality of measurement leads is electrically connected to a corresponding conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 25, wherein at least one of the plurality of measurement leads electrically connects to one conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes at a plurality of electrical connection points.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 25, wherein a first measurement lead of the plurality of measurement leads electrically connects to a first conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes at a first electrical connection point set, and a second measurement lead of the plurality of measurement leads electrically connects to a second conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes at a second electrical connection point set, the second set comprising a greater number of electrical connection points than the first set.

### Claim 29 (depends on 1)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 1, wherein each resistive element comprises a serpentine form.

### Claim 30 (depends on 1)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 1, wherein each conductive mesh of at least some of the plurality of conductive meshes electrically connects the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements via a respective plurality of electrical pathways, at least part of one electrical pathway of at least some of the respective plurality of electrical pathways prevented from merging with at least part of another electrical pathway of the at least some of the respective plurality of electrical pathways by a region of electrically-nonconductive material located between the at least part of the one electrical pathway and the at least part of the another electrical pathway.

### Claim 31 (depends on 4)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 4, wherein, for each of at least a first conductive mesh of the plurality of conductive meshes, the plurality of conductive segments of the first conductive mesh are arranged to, at least in part form, a plurality of openings, each opening of the plurality of openings surrounding a respective region of the electrically-nonconductive substrate.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 31, wherein the first conductive mesh extends along a first direction from a first resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements toward a second resistive element of the respective adjacent pair of resistive elements, and wherein at least a first group of the plurality of openings are arranged along one of the first direction and a second direction, the second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 32, wherein at least a second group of the plurality of openings are arranged along the other of the one of the first direction and the second direction.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The flexible circuit structure of claim 33, wherein the first and the second groups of openings share at least one opening of the plurality of openings.