Ablation Probe Coaxial Antenna Stationary Center Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current microwave and radiofrequency ablation probes face challenges in maintaining a stationary ablation zone center and controlling power density, leading to unpredictable and asymmetric ablation patterns, which complicates minimally invasive soft tissue procedures.
Innovation Solution
The development of ablation probes with a coaxial antenna design featuring an annular aperture and an annular heat transfer layer, which prevents ablation zone migration and allows for precise control of power density through a stationary center of ablation, enabling shaped and sized ablation zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional ablation probes are used, then ablation procedures can be performed, but the ablation zone migrates asymmetrically up the probe tip shaft resulting in unpredictable ablation patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The probe tip is segmented into distinct functional zones: a first portion with a center of ablation for generating the ablation zone, and a second portion with a heat transfer layer for thermal management. This segmentation prevents thermal accumulation at the ablation center, maintaining ablation zone stationarity and predictability throughout the ablation process.
2Productivity
If higher power is applied to achieve faster ablation, then productivity increases, but damage to adjacent collateral tissues increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer layer is applied locally at the probe tip surface where thermal management is most critical. This localized thermal control allows high power delivery for fast ablation while protecting adjacent tissues from excessive heat spread, achieving both productivity and tissue safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat transfer layer acts as an intermediary between the ablation zone and surrounding tissues. It facilitates controlled heat dissipation to prevent thermal damage to collateral tissues while allowing the ablation process to proceed at high power for improved productivity.
3Volume of moving object
If the ablation zone is allowed to expand freely, then more target tissue is treated, but the precision and control of the ablation zone shape deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically controls ablation zone expansion through the heat transfer layer that actively manages thermal distribution. This allows the ablation zone to expand to treat sufficient tissue volume while maintaining precise shape control through controlled thermal dissipation at the probe tip.
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 solution ensures predictable and controlled ablation zones with minimized damage to adjacent tissues, allowing for precise tissue ablation and reduced risk of complications in procedures like tooth bud ablation.
Implementation Method 1
Microwave ablation is a form of thermal ablation that uses electromagnetic waves in the microwave energy spectrum (300 MHz to 300 GHz) to produce tissue-heating effects to generate tissue necrosis within solid tumors
Implementation Method 2
The ablation probe tip includes an annular heat transfer layer spaced from an insertion end such that the annular aperture is between the annular heat transfer layer and the insertion end
Data Source
AI summary
An ablation probe tip 100 having a shaft 102 with an insertion end 104 and an annular aperture 120 near the insertion end 104. A center of ablation 124 is located within the shaft 102 and surrounded by the annular aperture shaft 102. The ablation probe tip 100 may be part of an ablation probe system 50 that includes an ablation source 60 that provides ablation means 62 to the ablation probe tip 100. The center of ablation 124 is a focal region from which the ablation means 62 radiates through the annular aperture 120 to form an ablation zone 150, 160, 170. The system 50 has at least one intra-operative control selected from the group of: ablation zone positioning control, ablation zone shaping control, ablation center control, ablation zone temperature control, guided ablation volume/diameter control, and power loading control.