Endobronchial Ablation Catheter with Sealed Guide and Suction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current endobronchial ablation methods for lung tumors are limited by high risks of pulmonary fistulas and pneumothorax, particularly for peripheral tumors, due to inadequate isolation of the intervention site from respiration and incomplete evaluation of ablation results, leading to suboptimal therapeutic outcomes.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus comprising an ablation catheter and guide facility with a sheath, closing apparatus, aperture, and suction system to isolate the intervention site from respiration, preventing air influx and maintaining low pressure, allowing airtight insertion and suction of the catheter to minimize the risk of pneumothorax and fistulas during endobronchial ablation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high-frequency ablation is performed on lung tumors, then tumor destruction is achieved, but the risk of pulmonary fistulas and pneumothorax increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetumor ablation efficacyVSAvoidpulmonary fistulas and pneumothorax

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bronchial tree is segmented into isolated zones using the guide facility with closing apparatus, allowing individual bronchial arms to be sealed off and treated independently. This segmentation prevents air leakage and pneumothorax by creating isolated treatment compartments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide facility acts as an intermediary device between the external environment and the treatment site. It provides a sealed passage for the ablation catheter while the closing apparatus seals the bronchial opening, mediating between the need for catheter access and the need to prevent air leakage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If bronchial opening is performed for ablation access, then catheter insertion is enabled, but air influx into the thoracic cavity occurs causing pneumothorax

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecatheter insertionVSAvoidpneumothorax

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ablation catheter is nested within the guide facility, which itself is inserted through the bronchial opening. This nested configuration allows the catheter to access the treatment site through the sealed guide facility channel, enabling insertion while preventing air leakage that would cause pneumothorax.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide facility employs flexible sealing elements and membrane structures that conform to the bronchial anatomy, creating an airtight seal around the catheter while allowing its passage. This flexible sealing prevents air influx into the thoracic cavity during catheter manipulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If larger ablation zones are created for curative treatment, then tumor coverage is improved, but pulmonary fistulas become uncontrolled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurative ablation coverageVSAvoiduncontrolled pulmonary fistulas

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment area is segmented into isolated bronchial zones using the closing apparatus, allowing large ablation zones to be created within each sealed compartment without causing uncontrolled fistulas. The segmentation contains potential fistula formation within isolated segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The closing apparatus is deployed beforehand to seal the bronchial opening, creating a protective barrier before ablation begins. This pre-sealing cushions against the formation of uncontrolled pulmonary fistulas by containing pressure and air within the sealed compartment during large-scale ablation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This apparatus enables minimally invasive transbronchial ablation with significantly reduced risks of pulmonary fistulas and pneumothorax, potentially lowering patient morbidity and achieving more effective tumor treatment compared to prior methods.

Implementation Method 1

the invention also provides for the use of a suction apparatus to suck air out of the blocked off bronchus or bronchial arm, to prevent the pressure there becoming too high

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

Ablation, in particular high-frequency ablation, is only used palliatively in the prior art as an alternative to irradiation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHigh-frequency ablation: Ablation

Data Source

PatentUS9161808B2Apparatus for endobronchial ablation of a tumor

Publication Date: 2015.10.20 VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

An apparatus for endobronchial ablation of a tumor is provided. The apparatus has an ablation catheter and a guide facility to be inserted into the bronchial system, a sheath defining a guide channel for the ablation catheter, a closing apparatus for a bronchial arm, and an aperture allowing airtight insertion of the ablation catheter into a bronchial arm blocked by the closing apparatus. The ablation catheter and/or the guide facility have a suction apparatus for sucking air out of a bronchial arm blocked off by the closing apparatus.