Ablation Needle Planning with Integrated Optical Sensors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current energy application planning methods for objects, such as tumors, do not effectively consider the positions and orientations of both energy application and sensing parts, leading to suboptimal energy distribution and monitoring during ablation procedures.

Innovation Solution

An energy application planning apparatus that determines the arrangement of an energy application element, including an ablation needle with optical sensors, based on both the position and orientation of the energy application part and sensing parts relative to the object, ensuring comprehensive coverage and monitoring of the ablation zone while avoiding impair and forbidden regions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If only the position of the energy application part is considered in planning, then the energy application can be performed as desired, but the sensing capability and monitoring quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy application precisionVSAvoidsensing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The energy application element is segmented into distinct functional parts: an energy application part for delivering energy and one or more sensing parts for monitoring. This segmentation allows each part to be independently positioned and optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between energy application precision and sensing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The planning system transitions from considering only the position of the energy application part to incorporating the positions and orientations of both the energy application part and sensing parts in three-dimensional space. This dimensional expansion of the planning parameters enables simultaneous optimization of both energy delivery and sensing functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the arrangement of energy application element is optimized for energy delivery, then energy application quality improves, but comprehensive monitoring coverage deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy application reliabilityVSAvoidmonitoring information coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The energy application element is designed with multi-functionality, incorporating both energy delivery capability and sensing capability within a single integrated device. This allows the element to simultaneously perform energy application and monitoring functions, eliminating the trade-off between reliability of energy delivery and completeness of monitoring information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensing parts provide real-time feedback on the treatment process by monitoring properties such as temperature, tissue characteristics, and ablation zone development. This feedback mechanism ensures comprehensive monitoring coverage while maintaining reliable energy application, as the sensing data can be used to adjust and optimize the energy delivery in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 approach allows for precise planning and execution of energy application, ensuring complete ablation of tumors while monitoring the ablation zone's development and safety margins, improving the quality and reliability of the energy application process.

Implementation Method 1

a sensing part for generating an optical sensing signal being indicative of a property of at least one of the object and the surrounding of the object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical sensing: Absorption Spectroscopy

Data Source

PatentEP2731532B1Energy application planning apparatus
Publication Date: 2019.03.27 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP2731532B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2731532B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2731532B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to an energy application planning apparatus for planning an application of energy to an object (3) like a tumor. An energy application element representation represents an energy application element (5) like an ablation needle including an energy application part for applying energy and a sensing part (7). An arrangement of the energy application element (5) with respect to the object (3) is determined depending on the positions of the energy application part and the sensing part (7) with respect to the energy application element (5) as defined by the energy application element representation and depending on the object representation. The application of energy can therefore not only be planned such that the application of energy is performed as desired, but also such that the object and/or a surrounding of the object are sensible as desired. In this way, the planning procedure can be improved.