MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) compatible nanometer knife

Abstract

The invention relates to a medical instrument, in particular to an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) compatible nanometer knife. Comprising a handle, a needle tube fixedly arranged on the handle, a needle body telescopically arranged in the needle tube, a sliding knob slidably connected to the handle and used for driving the needle body to do telescopic motion, and a thermocouple compensation line connected with one end of the needle body. One end of the needle body is provided with a needle head, the end, provided with the needle head, of the needle body is partially exposed out of the needle tube, the needle body is made of beryllium copper materials, the needle tube is made of brass materials, and an insulating layer is further arranged on the outer layer of the needle tube. The invention provides an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) compatible nano-knife. The nano-knife can reduce the generation of artifacts in an environment of nuclear magnetic resonance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to a medical device, in particular to an MRI-compatible nanoknife. Background Art

[0002] The descriptions in this section only provide background information related to the present disclosure and do not constitute prior art. Nanoknife ablation, also known as irreversible electroporation ablation, creates irreversible electroporation micropores in tumor cells, exposing tumor antigens and ultimately leading to apoptosis and disintegration of tumor cells. The apoptotic tumor cells are then engulfed by immune cells. Normal human cells recover through their own repair function after being electroporated by high-voltage pulses. Nanoknife ablation in related technologies is typically made of medical stainless steel or titanium alloy. This type of nanoknife has poor MRI compatibility and is prone to artifacts, affecting the target location and the evaluation of treatment efficacy. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present application provides an MRI-compatible nanoknife, which can reduce the generation of artifacts in a nuclear magnetic resonance environment.

[0004] In order to achieve the above objectives, this application is implemented through the following technical solutions:

[0005] An MRI-compatible nanoknife is characterized by comprising a handle, a needle tube fixedly mounted on the handle, a needle body retractably mounted in the needle tube, a slide button slidably connected to the handle for driving the needle body to retract and retract, and a thermocouple compensation wire connected to one end of the needle body; one end of the needle body has a needle tip, and the end of the needle body with the needle tip is partially exposed outside the needle tube; the needle body is made of beryllium copper, the needle tube is made of brass, and the outer layer of the needle tube is also provided with an insulating layer.

[0006] The exposed length of the needle body is adjustable to control the range of cell ablation, and the insulating layer is used to prevent current from leaking into surrounding tissues.

[0007] The above-mentioned MRI-compatible nanoknife of the present application is made of beryllium copper material for the needle body and brass material for the needle tube. Beryllium copper and brass materials have the characteristics of non-ferromagnetism, low electrical conductivity, no radio frequency interference, good mechanical and thermal stability, and good biocompatibility. They can interact safely in strong magnetic fields, radio frequency pulses and gradient magnetic fields, ensuring that there is no danger or interference with imaging during MRI examinations, thereby reducing the generation of artifacts.

[0008] During use, several nanoknives are inserted into the tumor area and a high-voltage current is applied to the needles, generating a brief electric field at the exposed part of the needles. This electric field creates nanoscale holes in the cell membrane, causing an imbalance in the exchange of substances inside and outside the cell, ultimately leading to the death of the tumor cells.

[0009] In some embodiments, the insulating layer is made of polytetrafluoroethylene or parylene.

[0010] In some embodiments, the handle and the slide button are both made of plastic.

[0011] In some embodiments, the positive electrode of the thermocouple compensation wire is made of pure copper, and the negative electrode is made of constantan material.

[0012] It can be seen from the above technical solutions that this application has at least the following advantages and positive effects:

[0013] The present application provides an MRI-compatible nanoknife device that has the functions of conventional nanoknife treatment under MRI scanning and does not produce obvious artifacts that affect the target location and the evaluation of treatment efficacy. It is operable and safe, and can effectively reduce the patient's radiation dose. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of the present application;

[0015] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the needle tube in the embodiment of the present application;

[0016] Figure 3 This is an image of an MR scan performed under a T1WI sequence with the needle inserted vertically in the embodiment of the present application;

[0017] Figure 4 This is an image of an MR scan performed under a T1WI sequence with the needle inserted in parallel in the embodiment of the present application;

[0018] Figure 5 This is an image of an MR scan performed under a T2WI sequence with the needle inserted vertically in the embodiment of the present application;

[0019] Figure 6 This is an image of the parallel insertion of the needle and the MR scanning under the T2WI sequence in the embodiment of the present application.

[0020] Explanation of the numbers: 1. Handle; 2. Needle tube; 3. Needle body; 31. Needle tip; 4. Slide button; 5. Thermocouple compensation wire; 6. Insulation layer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of this application clearer, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The terms used in the implementation method section of this application are only used to explain the specific embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0022] See Figures 1 to 2The embodiment of the present application provides an MRI-compatible nanoknife, comprising a handle 1, a needle tube 2 fixedly mounted on the handle 1, a needle body 3 retractably mounted in the needle tube 2, a slide button 4 slidably connected to the handle 1 for driving the needle body 3 to retract and retract, and a thermocouple compensation wire 5 connected to one end of the needle body 3; one end of the needle body 3 has a needle tip 31, and the end of the needle body 3 with the needle tip 31 is partially exposed outside the needle tube 2, the needle body 3 is made of beryllium copper, the needle tube 2 is made of brass, and the outer layer of the needle tube 2 is also provided with an insulating layer 6.

[0023] The exposed length of the needle body 3 is adjustable to control the cell ablation range, and the insulating layer 6 is used to prevent current from leaking to surrounding tissues.

[0024] The MRI-compatible nanoknife is made of beryllium copper for the needle body 3 and brass for the needle tube 2. Beryllium copper and brass are non-ferromagnetic, have low electrical conductivity, are free of radio frequency interference, have good mechanical and thermal stability, and are biocompatible. They can safely interact in strong magnetic fields, radio frequency pulses, and gradient magnetic fields, ensuring no danger or interference with imaging during MRI examinations, thereby reducing the generation of artifacts.

[0025] During use, several nanoknives are inserted into the tumor area and a high-voltage current is applied to the needle body 3, generating a brief electric field at the exposed part of the needle body 3. The electric field creates nanoscale holes in the cell membrane, causing an imbalance in the exchange of substances inside and outside the cell, ultimately leading to the death of the tumor cells.

[0026] Beryllium copper has the characteristics of high strength and high hardness, and its tensile strength and hardness are much higher than ordinary copper. Brass has good ductility, corrosion resistance and good casting properties.

[0027] Beryllium copper has a higher density, about twice that of ordinary copper, and therefore has higher thermal and electrical conductivity, while brass has a relatively low density but still has good thermal and electrical conductivity.

[0028] Beryllium copper, due to its high strength and hardness, is used in the needle body to better meet puncture requirements. Furthermore, its excellent conductivity is more consistent with the working principle of the Nanoknife. Brass, due to its excellent corrosion resistance and ductility, is used in the needle tube to isolate the unexposed needle body from the impact of the punctured tissue.

[0029] The insulating layer 6 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene or parylene.

[0030] The handle 1 and the slide button 4 are both made of plastic.

[0031] The positive electrode of the thermocouple compensation wire 5 is made of pure copper, and the negative electrode is made of constantan. Pure copper has excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, excellent plasticity, and is easily processed by hot and cold pressing. Constantan is suitable for use in AC circuits and can also be used as a material for thermocouples and thermocouple compensation wire. Furthermore, copper is a non-ferromagnetic metal, which can reduce the formation of artifacts during MR scanning, reducing the impact on imaging and treatment efficacy evaluation.

[0032] See also Figures 3 to 6 As shown, with a brass + beryllium copper needle, the nanoknife is placed vertically or parallel to the MR scanning bed (magnet direction) for MR scanning imaging. No obvious artifacts are seen around the needle and in the background tissue. The needle body is uniformly developed, approximately 0.5 cm (the actual diameter of the needle body is 1 mm), which meets the actual clinical application needs.

[0033] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. These modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. An MRI-compatible NanoKnife, characterized by: The invention comprises a handle (1), a needle tube (2) fixedly arranged on the handle (1), a needle body (3) telescopically arranged in the needle tube (2), a sliding button (4) slidably connected to the handle (1) for driving the needle body (3) to telescopically move, and a thermocouple compensation wire (5) connected to one end of the needle body (3); one end of the needle body (3) is provided with a needle head (31), and the end of the needle body (3) with the needle head (31) is partially exposed outside the needle tube (2); the needle body (3) is made of beryllium copper material, the needle tube (2) is made of brass material, and the outer layer of the needle tube (2) is also provided with an insulating layer (6).

2. The MRI-compatible NanoKnife according to claim 1, characterized in that: The insulating layer (6) is made of polytetrafluoroethylene or polyparaxylene material.

3. The MRI-compatible NanoKnife according to claim 1, characterized in that: The handle (1) and the slide button (4) are both made of plastic.

4. The MRI-compatible NanoKnife according to claim 1, characterized in that: The positive electrode of the thermocouple compensation wire (5) is made of pure copper, and the negative electrode is made of constantan material.

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