Ablation Needle Semipermeable Ring Gas Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ablation needle assemblies face challenges in properly placing electrodes and efficiently delivering conductive fluids, such as saline, during electrosurgical treatments, particularly in lung tissue, due to difficulties in electrode placement and fluid delivery.
Innovation Solution
An improved ablation needle assembly featuring a hypotube with a semipermeable ring structure that allows gas passage while preventing liquid flow, enabling precise electrode placement and efficient fluid delivery, including the use of multiple ring members to create chambers for treatment materials and a tissue stop feature to control electrode penetration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standard ablation needle assembly is used, then the structure is simple, but proper electrode placement and efficient conductive fluid delivery are difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated needle assembly structure. The hypotube incorporates both electrode delivery capability and fluid delivery capability within one unified structure, eliminating the need for separate devices for electrode placement and fluid injection, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining reasonable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The needle assembly is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it delivers electrodes to the treatment site, injects conductive fluid through the same hypotube, and provides structural support. This multi-functional design allows a single device to replace multiple separate tools, significantly improving ease of operation during the ablation procedure
2Reliability
If a semipermeable ring structure is added to allow gas passage and prevent liquid flow, then fluid delivery control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The semipermeable ring structure introduces localized functional differentiation within the hypotube. Specifically, the ring allows gas to pass through while blocking liquid flow, creating different permeability properties at different locations within the same structure. This local quality control improves reliability of fluid delivery by preventing liquid leakage while allowing gas venting, without requiring complete redesign of the entire device
Solution Approach 2:
The semipermeable ring acts as an intermediary element between the internal hypotube lumen and the external environment. It mediates the interaction between gases and liquids by selectively permitting gas passage while preventing liquid passage, thereby controlling fluid delivery reliability without requiring complex external control mechanisms
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ring members are used to create chambers for treatment materials, then delivery capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the internal volume of the hypotube into separate chambers using multiple ring members. This segmentation allows different treatment materials to be stored in distinct compartments within the same needle assembly, enabling the delivery of multiple therapeutic agents simultaneously or sequentially, thereby improving adaptability and versatility of the device
Solution Approach 2:
The ring members are nested within the hypotube structure, with each ring positioned inside the previous one, creating a hierarchical arrangement. This nesting configuration allows multiple functional elements to be contained within a compact structure, improving versatility of treatment material delivery while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity
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 solution ensures proper electrode placement and efficient delivery of conductive fluids, allowing for effective bipolar ablation treatments while maintaining separation between electrodes and facilitating the use of various therapeutic compounds.
Implementation Method 1
a first ring member 70 disposed about the second electrode and slidably holding the second electrode apart from the first electrode; wherein the first ring member comprises a semipermeable structure that allows for the passage of a gas and resists the passage of a liquid from the distal end to the proximal end of the hypotube
Data Source
AI summary
An ablation needle apparatus (10) for delivering ablation energy (20) to a subject (40) comprising a hypotube with a proximal and distal end and having a hollow lumen, including a puncture member and a first electrode disposed at the distal end of the hypotube; a second electrode disposed within the hollow lumen; and a first ring member disposed about the second electrode and slidably holding the second electrode apart from the first electrode; wherein the first ring member comprises a semipermeable structure that allows for the passage of a gas and resists the passage of a liquid from the distal end to the proximal end of the hypotube.