Enhanced Medical Devices with Flexible Circuit Assemblies

Publication ID: 24-11857148_0001_PTD

Published: November 07, 2025

Category:Direct Improvements & Enhancements

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Enhanced Medical Devices with Flexible Circuit Assemblies,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857148_0001_PTD, Published November 07, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857148_0001_PTD

This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,148.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

The present inventive concept discloses medical devices with improved flexible circuit assemblies, enhancing durability, functionality, and user experience.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent disclosed medical devices with flexible circuit assemblies for sympathetic nerve modulation. However, these devices had limitations in terms of durability, pressure monitoring, and insertion ease. The present inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing reinforced metalized layers, pressure sensors, tapered shapes, lubricious coatings, and wireless data transmission capabilities.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The enhanced medical device comprises a catheter shaft, a balloon, and a flexible circuit assembly. The flexible circuit assembly features a polymer substrate, a distal end, and a proximal end. In various embodiments, the proximal end is reinforced with a metalized layer for improved durability, the distal end is equipped with a sensor for monitoring balloon pressure, the proximal end is designed with a tapered shape for easier insertion, the distal end is coated with a lubricious material for reduced friction, or the flexible circuit assembly is configured to transmit data wirelessly to an external device.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce novel features that significantly enhance the functionality and usability of the original medical devices. The inventive step lies in the combination of these features, which provide a more efficient, safer, and user-friendly experience.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments may include using different materials for the flexible circuit assembly, varying the design of the tapered shape, or incorporating additional sensors for monitoring other physiological parameters.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The enhanced medical devices with flexible circuit assemblies have significant commercial potential in the medical device industry, particularly in the fields of cardiovascular and neurovascular interventions.

CPC Classifications

Section	Class	Group
A	A61	A61B18/1492
A	A61	A61F7/007
A	A61	A61F7/123
H	H05	H05K1/028
A	A61	A61B2018/0016
A	A61	A61B2018/0022
A	A61	A61B2018/00404
A	A61	A61B2018/00434
A	A61	A61B2018/00511
A	A61	A61B2018/00577
A	A61	A61B2018/00797
A	A61	A61B2018/00815
A	A61	A61B2018/1465
A	A61	A61B2018/1467
A	A61	A61B2018/1475
A	A61	A61F2007/126

Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)

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Field of Art

Medical device engineering, specifically intravascular catheter design with flexible circuit assemblies, focusing on interventional medical technologies involving nerve modulation and diagnostic imaging devices

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer with expertise in medical device design, circuit fabrication, polymer engineering, and catheter manufacturing, typically holding a Master's or PhD with 3-5 years of specialized experience in medical device development

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the published technical disclosure represents predictable variations on the source patent's fundamental medical device architecture, employing standard engineering techniques to incrementally enhance flexible circuit assembly functionality through known material modifications, sensor integration, and wireless communication strategies.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element

Flexible circuit assembly with polymer substrate coupled to catheter shaft and balloon

PTD Variation

Adding metalized layer reinforcement to proximal end of flexible circuit assembly

Obviousness Reasoning

Material reinforcement is a standard design optimization technique for improving mechanical durability, which would be an obvious design choice for a PHOSITA seeking to enhance circuit assembly performance

Source Patent Element

Medical device with electrodes and circuit components

PTD Variation

Integrating pressure monitoring sensor at balloon's distal end

Obviousness Reasoning

Sensor integration represents a predictable enhancement for medical devices, with pressure monitoring being a known and valuable diagnostic technique in interventional medical technologies

Source Patent Element

Catheter-based medical device with flexible circuit assembly

PTD Variation

Configuring flexible circuit assembly for wireless data transmission

Obviousness Reasoning

Wireless communication is a well-established technological trend in medical devices, representing an obvious technological progression for improving device functionality and reducing physical connection complexity

Source Patent Element

Catheter shaft with balloon and flexible circuit assembly

PTD Variation

Designing proximal end with tapered shape for easier insertion

Obviousness Reasoning

Geometric modifications to improve device insertability are standard design considerations, representing a predictable solution to known medical device usability challenges

Source Patent Element

Flexible circuit assembly on medical device

PTD Variation

Applying lubricious coating to distal end for reduced friction

Obviousness Reasoning

Surface modification techniques for reducing friction are well-known in medical device engineering, representing a straightforward optimization approach for improving device performance

35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on US Patent 11857148's disclosure of medical devices with flexible circuit assemblies, the present published technical disclosure demonstrates that the claimed variations represent obvious extensions of the prior art, employing standard engineering techniques to incrementally enhance device functionality through predictable combinations of known technological strategies, thereby rendering subsequent claims involving similar modifications unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103.

Original Patent Information

Patent Number	US 11,857,148
Title	Medical devices with flexible circuit assemblies
Assignee(s)	Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.