Ablation Probe With Variable Thermal Conductivity Hose Wall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radio frequency ablation probes face challenges in efficiently dissipating heat from electrodes while preventing preheating of the cooling fluid and minimizing cold damage to body tissues.
Innovation Solution
The ablation probe features a flexible hose with a higher radial heat conductivity in the distal end section where the electrodes are located, allowing effective heat dissipation to the cooling medium. Outside the distal end section, the hose has poor heat conductivity, acting as a counter-current heat exchanger to pre-cool the incoming cooling fluid and prevent body heat from entering the channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the hose wall has high heat conductivity along its length, then heat dissipation from electrodes is improved, but body heat is introduced into the cooling fluid channel preheating the cooling fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The hose wall is designed with different thermal conductivity properties at different locations: the distal end section (where electrodes are located) has higher radial heat conductivity to efficiently transfer heat from electrodes to cooling fluid, while the proximal section has lower heat conductivity to prevent body heat from preheating the cooling fluid. This spatial variation in material properties resolves the contradiction between effective electrode cooling and preventing cooling fluid preheating.
2Temperature
If the hose wall has high heat conductivity, then heat dissipation from electrodes is improved, but cold damage to body tissue or endoscope may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The hose wall exhibits spatially varying thermal conductivity: high radial heat conductivity at the distal end section enables effective heat dissipation from electrodes to cooling fluid, while low heat conductivity in the proximal section acts as thermal insulation to prevent cold damage to body tissue or endoscope. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction between heat dissipation efficiency and tissue protection.
3Strength
If the hose wall thickness is increased, then structural strength is improved, but heat dissipation from electrodes to cooling fluid is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hose wall is designed with non-uniform thickness: the distal end section has reduced wall thickness to minimize thermal resistance and maximize heat dissipation from electrodes to cooling fluid, while the proximal section maintains adequate wall thickness for structural strength. This spatial variation in geometric properties resolves the contradiction between structural integrity and heat transfer efficiency.
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 design efficiently cools the electrodes while minimizing the risk of cold damage to tissues and optimizing the cooling fluid's temperature, ensuring effective heat dissipation and tissue ablation.
Implementation Method 1
the hose wall comprises a higher radial heat conductivity in the distal end section in the radial direction, i.e. in the direction from the electrode toward the channel
Implementation Method 2
a channel through which a cooling fluid is supplied to an inner space extracting heat from the electrodes and diverting it
Implementation Method 3
the poor heat conductivity of the hose wall outside of the distal end section avoids that body heat of the patient is introduced in the channel of the hose and preheats the cooling fluid
Implementation Method 4
The thermal insulation of the probe provided by the low heat conductivity of the material of the hose wall also prevents damage of body tissue or endoscope through cold as it could occur
Data Source
AI summary
A probe that is particularly usable as a radio frequency ablation probe and comprises an inner cooling in order to keep the at least one electrode at the tissue wet and to avoid excessive heating. In the area of the electrode the hose wall of the hose supporting the electrode comprises an increased heat conductivity, whereas apart from that it has a comparably low heat conductivity outside of the electrode carrying distal end section. The increase of the heat conductivity in the distal end section can be achieved by reduction of the wall thickness, by selection of a suitable plastic, by arrangement of heat transfer bodies in the hose wall or by a combination of two or more of these features.