Ablation Catheter Vapor Delivery with Surface Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Steam-based ablation systems risk overheating and burning healthy tissue due to excessive heat transfer from the device's channel surfaces, and there is a need for ergonomic handling and reliable vapor delivery.

Innovation Solution

An ablation catheter with an outer sheath, inner shaft, positioning elements, ports, and a handle, integrated with a heating component and a fluid reservoir system, including a controller for controlled vapor generation and delivery, ensuring safe and consistent ablation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If steam is delivered through channels in the ablation device, then ablation therapy is effective, but external surfaces of the device become excessively hot causing potential tissue burning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveablation therapy effectivenessVSAvoidexternal surface overheating and tissue burning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ablation device is divided into multiple independent channels: internal channels for steam delivery to the target tissue, and separate external channels for delivering cooling fluid. This segmentation allows independent control of heating and cooling functions, enabling effective ablation while preventing external surface overheating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A cooling fluid is introduced as an intermediary substance through external channels to absorb excess heat from the device's external surfaces. This cooling fluid acts as a thermal mediator, transferring heat away from critical external surfaces without interfering with the steam delivery function, thereby preventing tissue burning during ablation therapy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If steam flow is increased for effective ablation, then treatment efficacy improves, but risk of overheating and accidental burning increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveablation treatment efficacyVSAvoidoverheating and accidental burning

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling fluid delivery is designed to operate continuously throughout the ablation procedure, maintaining constant thermal management. This continuous cooling action ensures that external surfaces remain at safe temperatures even when steam flow is increased for effective ablation, eliminating the trade-off between productivity and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates thermal monitoring and control mechanisms that detect temperature changes in real-time. When temperature thresholds are approached, the cooling fluid delivery is automatically adjusted to maintain safe operating temperatures, enabling high steam flow for effective ablation while preventing overheating through active feedback control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If device structure is simplified for ease of use, then ergonomic handling improves, but control precision over vapor delivery may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveergonomic handlingVSAvoidvapor delivery control precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple control functions are merged into a single integrated handle assembly that the physician holds. The handle integrates controls for steam delivery, cooling fluid delivery, and positioning elements, allowing comprehensive control of all device functions through one ergonomic interface. This merging maintains precision control while significantly improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The handle is designed as a universal control station that manages multiple functions simultaneously: steam flow control, cooling fluid flow control, and positioning element actuation. This multi-functional design consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate controls, maintaining precise vapor delivery control while enhancing ergonomic handling through a single integrated interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The system provides controlled and reliable vapor delivery, preventing unwanted ablation of healthy tissue and enabling ergonomic handling, ensuring effective treatment of uterine and genitourinary conditions with minimal risk of thermal injury.

Implementation Method 1

at least one heating component within the lumen... configured to convert the volume of fluid received by the lumen to a vapor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

at least one positioning element... configured to expand from a first compressed delivery configuration to a second uncompressed deployed configuration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic expansion: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250261984A1Ablation catheters and systems

Publication Date: 2025.08.21 AQUA THERAPEUTICS INC

AI summary

An ablation catheter and an ablation system for ablating a uterine cavity of a patient. The catheter has ablation ports configured between two positioning elements and at least one port at the center of an atraumatic distal tip. An internal heating chamber is disposed within a lumen of the catheter to heat a fluid and generate vapor. The internal heating chamber comprises an electrode or an array of electrodes that are positioned circumferentially around a central core.