A tool for testing the sealing of an ablation electrode needle

Abstract

The application discloses a tool for testing the sealing performance of an ablation electrode needle, comprising a pressurizing part and a sealing part, wherein the sealing part comprises a chamber, the right end of the chamber is open, and the left end of the chamber is closed. The first end of the ablation electrode needle without sealing can be placed in the chamber, and the second end of the ablation electrode needle which needs to be tested for sealing performance can extend out of the chamber. A hose is further included, one end of the hose is connected to the pressurizing part, and the other end of the hose is connected to the sealing part and communicates with the chamber. The pressurizing part can pressurize the chamber of the sealing part.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical device technology, and more specifically, to a tooling for testing the sealing performance of ablation electrode needles. Background Technology

[0002] Microwave tumor ablation is a minimally invasive local tumor treatment technique. It utilizes high-frequency electromagnetic waves—microwaves—by inserting a thin ablation needle directly into the center of the tumor. Under the influence of the microwave electric field, polar molecules such as water and protein molecules within the tumor tissue undergo high-speed friction and oscillation, generating temperatures as high as 60-150°C. This causes irreversible coagulative necrosis of the tumor cells, which are eventually gradually absorbed and fibrosed by the body.

[0003] This technology belongs to the category of thermal ablation therapy and is considered an important local tumor treatment method alongside radiofrequency ablation and high-intensity focused ultrasound. Its core objective is to precisely and efficiently "burn" the tumor while maximizing the protection of surrounding normal tissue. Due to its high ablation temperature, cold circulating water is typically circulated within the syringe to cool the working end and prevent burns to healthy tissue in non-treatment areas. The microwave radiation window of the microwave ablation electrode needle used in surgery is located at the junction of the needle tip and needle shaft. One end of the cold circulating water channel is located inside the needle shaft near the radiation window. Currently, it has been found that some microwave ablation electrode needles experience cold circulating water leakage from the connection point of the radiation window during use. This leaked water can conduct microwave energy, potentially burning healthy tissue in non-treatment areas. The leaked water can also affect the ablation effect. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a tooling for testing the sealing performance of ablation electrode needles, which includes a pressure-applying part;

[0005] A sealing part, the sealing part including a chamber, the right end of the chamber being open and the left end of the chamber being closed;

[0006] The unsealed first end of the ablation electrode needle can be placed inside the cavity, and the second end of the ablation electrode needle that needs to be tested for sealing can extend out of the cavity.

[0007] A hose, one end of which is connected to the pressurizing part, and the other end of which is connected to the sealing part and communicates with the chamber;

[0008] The pressurizing part can pressurize the cavity of the sealing part.

[0009] The tooling for testing the sealing performance of ablation electrode needles according to the present invention can perform sealing performance tests on ablation electrode needles during the production process, especially on semi-finished products before the handle is installed. If the sealing performance of the ablation electrode needle is found to be unqualified at this stage, it can be reworked or repaired in a timely manner, avoiding the waste of manpower and resources or the increase in maintenance costs caused by discovering sealing problems after the product is made into a finished product. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a tooling for testing the sealing performance of an ablation electrode needle, provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an ablation electrode needle provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the split structure of another tooling for testing the sealing performance of an ablation electrode needle provided in an embodiment of the present invention (part A is a perspective view).

[0013] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of placing an ablation electrode needle on a tooling for testing the sealing performance of an ablation electrode needle according to another embodiment of the present invention (part B is a perspective view).

[0014] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of placing an ablation electrode needle on a tooling for testing the sealing performance of an ablation electrode needle according to another embodiment of the present invention (part C is a perspective view).

[0015] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of placing an ablation electrode needle on a tooling for testing the sealing performance of an ablation electrode needle according to another embodiment of the present invention (part D is a perspective view).

[0016] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of ablation electrode needle placed on a tooling for testing the sealing performance of an ablation electrode needle according to another embodiment of the present invention (part E is a perspective view).

[0017] Reference numerals: 1. Pressurizing part; 11. Pressure gauge; 12. Balloon dilation pressure pump; 2. Sealing part; 21. Chamber; 211. Right end; 212. Left end; 22. First sealing cap; 23. Syringe; 231. Outlet; 232. Tube body; 2321. Internal thread; 233. Push rod; 2331. Piston head; 2332. External thread; 234. Second sealing cap; 3. Tube; 4. Ablation electrode needle; 41. First end; 42. Second end; 5. T-connector; 51. First interface; 52. Second interface; 53. Third interface; 6. First sealing plug; 7. Second sealing plug. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "right end," "left end," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0020] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set up," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0021] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0022] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] According to embodiments of the present invention, a tooling for testing the sealing performance of ablation electrode needles is provided, such as... Figure 1 As shown, it includes: a pressurizing part 1, a sealing part 2, and a hose 3. The sealing part 2 includes a chamber 21, the right end 211 of which is open, i.e., the right end 211 is in communication with the outside. The left end 212 of the chamber 21 is closed, i.e., the left end 212 of the chamber 21 is blocked. It should be noted that the right end 211 and left end 212 defined here are for ease of description and simplification, to distinguish the two ends of the chamber 21, and are not specific limitations on the positions of the two ends of the chamber 21 in this invention. Figure 2The diagram shows an ablation electrode needle 4. This ablation electrode needle 4 is a semi-finished product without a handle. The unsealed first end 41 of the ablation electrode needle 4 can be placed into the chamber 21 of the sealing part 2. The second end 42 of the ablation electrode needle 4, whose sealing performance needs to be tested, can extend from the right end 211 of the chamber 21. The second end 42 of the ablation electrode needle 4 is sealed; to verify whether the sealing performance of the second end 42 meets the quality requirements, a sealing performance test is required. In this embodiment, a removable first sealing cap 22 is provided at the left end 212 of the chamber 21 to seal the left end 212 of the chamber 21 during the sealing test. Furthermore, the removable first sealing cap 22 allows for easy removal. Then, the ablation electrode needle 4, whose sealing performance needs to be tested, is inserted into the chamber 21 from the left end 212. The second end 42 of the ablation electrode needle 4, whose sealing performance needs to be tested, extends out from the opening at the right end 211 of the chamber 21, while the unsealed first end 41 remains inside the chamber 21. It should be noted that in other embodiments, if the ablation electrode needle 4 is relatively thin, with its maximum diameter less than or equal to the minimum diameter at the opening at the right end 211 of the chamber 21 of the sealing part 2, the first end 41 of the ablation electrode needle 4 can be inserted into the chamber 21 of the sealing part 2 from the opening at the right end 211 of the chamber 21. It should be noted that the left end 212 of the chamber 21 can also be made completely closed, without the need for a removable sealing cap. This simplifies the manufacturing process of the sealing part 2. To ensure that the unsealed first end 41 of the ablation electrode needle 4 is well sealed within the chamber 21 of the sealing part 2, it is preferable to design the opening diameter of the right end 211 of the chamber 21 of the sealing part 2 to be smaller than the diameter of other parts of the chamber 21, i.e., to make a constriction design at the right end 211 of the chamber 21. In this case, if a removable first sealing cap 22 is provided at the left end 212 of the chamber 21, the tooling can be matched with more types and structures of ablation electrode needles 4. For ablation electrode needles 4 with large components connected to the first end 41, they can be inserted from the left end 212 of the chamber 21 of the sealing part 2. For ablation electrode needles 4 that are relatively thin, they can be inserted into the chamber 21 of the sealing part 2 from the opening at the right end 211 of the chamber 21 of the sealing part 2. The tooling in this embodiment also includes at least one hollow first sealing plug 6. The first sealing plug 6 can be tightly fitted onto the ablation electrode needle 4 and can movably seal the opening at the right end 211 of the chamber 21 connected to the sealing part 2. When the first end 41 of the ablation electrode needle 4 is placed into the chamber 21 of the sealing part 2, the first sealing plug 6 can seal the ablation electrode needle 4 to the opening at the right end 211 of the chamber 21. Preferably, multiple first sealing plugs 6 with different hollow diameters are provided to match more ablation electrode needles 4 with different diameters.

[0024] One end of the hose 3 is connected to the pressurizing part 1, and the other end of the hose 3 is connected to the sealing part 2 and communicates with the chamber 21. The pressurizing part 1 can pressurize the chamber 21 of the sealing part 2. In this embodiment, both ends of the hose 3 are fixedly connected to the pressurizing part 1 and the sealing part 2, respectively. In other embodiments, both ends of the hose 3 can also be detachably connected to the pressurizing part 1 and the sealing part 2, or one end can be fixedly connected and the other end can be detachably connected. Preferably, one end of the hose 3 is fixedly connected to the pressurizing part 1 and the other end is detachably connected to the sealing part 2. In this embodiment, the hose 3 is a high-pressure resistant hose 3, which is not easily deformed when high-pressure gas is injected into it. A pressure gauge 11 is provided on the pressurizing part 1 to monitor changes in the pressure value. In this embodiment, the pressurizing part 1 is manually controlled for pressurization, but in other embodiments, electric pressurization can also be used to improve detection efficiency.

[0025] like Figures 3-4As shown, in this embodiment, the sealing part 2 is a syringe 23 without a needle. The tubing 3 is detachably connected to the syringe 23 via a tee 5. The first port 51 of the tee 5 is connected to the tubing 3, and the second port 52 of the tee 5 is connected to the outlet 231 of the syringe 23. The outlet 231 of the syringe 23 is the opening at the right end 211 of the chamber 21 of the sealing part 2. The third port 53 of the tee 5 is arranged opposite to the second port 52 in the same direction, that is, the third port 53 and the second port 52 are basically arranged opposite to each other in a straight line. When performing a sealing test on the ablation electrode needle 4, the first end 41 of the ablation electrode needle 4 is placed inside the chamber 21 of the syringe 23, and the remaining part of the ablation electrode needle 4 extends through the second port 52 and the third port 53, with its second end 42 extending out of the third port 53. The other end of the tubing 3 is detachably connected to the pressurizing part 1. The tooling in this embodiment also includes at least one hollow second sealing plug 7. The second sealing plug 7 can be tightly fitted onto the ablation electrode needle 4 and can be movably and sealingly connected to the third interface 53 of the tee 5. When the first end 41 of the ablation electrode needle 4 is placed into the chamber 21 of the sealing part 2, the second sealing plug 7 can seal the ablation electrode needle 4 to the third interface 53 of the tee 5. Preferably, multiple second sealing plugs 7 with different hollow diameters are provided to match more ablation electrode needles 4 with different diameters. Therefore, for the same tooling for testing the sealing performance of the ablation electrode needle 4, the sealing performance of multiple ablation electrode needles 4 with different diameters can be tested. Each ablation electrode needle 4 only needs to be fitted with a second sealing plug 7 that matches its own diameter. The syringe 23 includes a push rod 233 at the end opposite the outlet 231. One end of the push rod 233 is located inside the chamber 21 of the syringe 23, and the other end is located outside the chamber 21. The push rod 233 can move back and forth within the chamber 21, thereby changing the size of the chamber 21. The end of the push rod 233 located inside the chamber 21 includes a piston head 2331, which serves as a seal. If the ablation electrode needle 4 placed in the chamber 21 is relatively short, occupying only a portion of the length of the chamber 21, the push rod 233 can be pushed near the ablation electrode needle 4 to reduce the space in the chamber 21, thus making manual pressurization easier. In this embodiment, the pressurizing part 1 is a balloon dilation pressure pump 12. It is small, easy to operate, and readily available on the market. The inventors broke with conventional design, cleverly using the syringe 23 as the sealing part 2 and the balloon dilation pressure pump 12 as the pressurizing part 1, achieving excellent results. First, the syringe 23 has a one-piece tubing 232, ensuring good sealing. Second, the syringe 23 is readily available on the market and can be used directly without modification, making it convenient and inexpensive.

[0026] like Figure 5As shown, in some optional embodiments, an external thread 2332 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the push rod 233, and an internal thread 2321 matching the external thread 2332 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the syringe 23 tube 232. The push rod 233 can be firmly fixed at a designated position on the syringe 23 tube 232 through the engagement of the external thread 2332 and the internal thread 2321. In other embodiments, other methods can also be used to fix the position of the push rod 233.

[0027] like Figure 6 As shown, in some alternative embodiments, the plunger 233 in the syringe 23 can be replaced with a second sealing cap 234, which is detachably disposed at the left end 212 of the syringe 23 (i.e., the end opposite to the outlet 231). The second sealing cap 234 is used to seal the left end 212 of the syringe 23. Because the second sealing cap 234 can be removed, the ablation electrode needle 4 can be inserted into the chamber 21 from the left end 212 of the syringe 23, and then the second sealing cap 234 can be closed.

[0028] It should be noted that the syringe 23 disclosed in this invention can be a conventional syringe known to those skilled in the art without modification, or it can be a syringe with some modifications to the structure of a conventional syringe.

[0029] In another embodiment, with Figure 7The following example illustrates the sealing test method for the tooling used to test the sealing performance of the ablation electrode needle according to the present invention. If the ablation electrode needle 4 to be tested is relatively thin and can pass through the openings of the third port 53, the second port 52, and the right end 211 of the syringe 23 of the tee 5, then the first end 41 of the ablation electrode needle 4 can be passed through the third port 53, the second port 52, and the outlet 231 of the right end 211 of the syringe 23 and then inserted into the chamber 21 of the sealing part 2. Then, the second port 52 of the tee 5 is connected to the outlet 231 of the syringe 23. A sealing plug matching the ablation electrode needle 4 is then fitted onto the ablation electrode needle 4 and connected to the third port 53 of the tee 5 to seal the third port 53 of the tee 5. One end of the tubing 3 is connected to the first port 51 of the tee 5, and the other end is connected to the pressurizing part 1. After the entire tooling is connected, push the plunger 233 of the syringe 23 to the designated position and begin pressurizing the pressurizing part 1. Pressurize to the preset pressure value and maintain the pressure for at least a certain period (set according to specific requirements). Then observe whether the pressure gauge reading drops significantly. If there is a significant drop, it indicates a problem with the sealing of the second end 42 of the ablation electrode needle 4. To more accurately determine the sealing of the second end 42 of the ablation electrode needle 4, the second end 42 of the ablation electrode needle 4 can be inserted into water, ensuring the water level covers the sealed area. After pressurization, observe whether air bubbles are generated in the water. If air bubbles are generated, it indicates a problem with the sealing of the second end 42 of the ablation electrode needle 4. The ablation electrode needle 4 to be tested can also be placed into the chamber 21 from the left end 212 of the sealing part 2. The second end 42 of the ablation electrode needle 4, whose sealing needs to be tested, extends out from the opening at the right end 211 of the chamber 21, while the unsealed first end 41 of the ablation electrode needle 4 remains inside the chamber 21.

[0030] The tooling for testing the sealing performance of ablation electrode needles according to the present invention can perform sealing performance tests on ablation electrode needles during the production process, especially on semi-finished products before the handle is installed. If the sealing performance of the ablation electrode needle is found to be unqualified at this stage, it can be reworked or repaired in a timely manner, avoiding the waste of manpower and resources or the increase in maintenance costs caused by discovering sealing problems after the product is made into a finished product.

[0031] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions falling within the scope of the present invention's concept are within the scope of protection of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, any improvements and modifications made without departing from the principle of the present invention should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tooling for testing the sealing performance of an ablation electrode needle, characterized in that, Includes a pressurization section (1); The sealing part (2) includes a chamber (21), the right end (211) of the chamber (21) is open, and the left end (212) of the chamber (21) is closed; The unsealed first end (41) of the ablation electrode needle (4) can be placed inside the chamber (21), and the second end (42) of the ablation electrode needle (4) that needs to be tested for sealing can extend out of the chamber (21); A hose (3), one end of which is connected to the pressurizing part (1), and the other end of which is connected to the sealing part (2) and communicates with the chamber (21); The pressurizing part (1) can pressurize the chamber (21) of the sealing part (2).

2. The tooling according to claim 1, characterized in that, The left end (212) of the chamber (21) is provided with a removable first sealing cover (22).

3. The tooling according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes at least one hollow first sealing plug (6), which can be tightly fitted onto the ablation electrode needle (4) and can movably seal the opening at the right end (211) of the chamber (21).

4. The tooling according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hose (3) is detachably connected to the sealing part (2) via a tee (5).

5. The tooling according to claim 4, characterized in that, The sealing part (2) is a syringe (23) without a needle. The first port (51) of the tee (5) is connected to the hose (3). The second port (52) of the tee (5) is connected to the outlet (231) of the syringe (23). The third port (53) of the tee (5) and the second port (52) are arranged opposite to each other in the same direction. During testing, the first end (41) of the ablation electrode needle (4) is placed inside the chamber (21), and the remaining part of the ablation electrode needle (4) extends through the second interface (52) and the third interface (53) so that the second end (42) protrudes from the third interface (53).

6. The tooling according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes at least one hollow second sealing plug (7), which can be tightly fitted onto the ablation electrode needle (4) and can be movably and sealingly connected to the third interface (53).

7. The tooling according to claim 5, characterized in that, The syringe (23) includes a push rod (233) at one end opposite to the outlet (231), which can move back and forth within the chamber (21).

8. The tooling according to claim 7, characterized in that, The outer circumferential surface of the push rod (233) is provided with an external thread (2332), and the inner circumferential surface of the syringe (23) tube (232) is provided with an internal thread (2321) that matches the external thread (2332).

9. The tooling according to claim 5, characterized in that, The syringe (23) includes a removable second sealing cap (234) at one end opposite to the outlet (231).

10. The tooling according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressurization unit (1) is a balloon dilation pressure pump (12).

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