Ablation System with Movable Reflector and Cooling Fluid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ablation devices for renal artery sympathetic nerve ablation face challenges such as complex catheter structures, inaccurate focal position alignment due to varying vascular wall thickness, and potential damage from increased laser output, including burning and peeling of reflectors.
Innovation Solution
An ablation system with an elastically expandable balloon and a movable, rotatable reflector within the catheter, which guides and reflects laser light uniformly around the lumen, while a fluid lumen system cools the inner surface to prevent heat damage and protect the reflector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heat is transmitted from the intracavity to the adventitia of the renal arteries for nerve ablation, then the nerves can be cauterized, but adverse effects such as edema and thrombus arise with high frequency due to heat given to the intima
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cooling fluid as an intermediary substance that flows through the catheter lumen between the heat source and the intima. This cooling fluid acts as a thermal barrier, absorbing excess heat before it reaches the intima, thereby preventing thermal damage while allowing effective nerve ablation at the adventitia
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic cooling by circulating fluid through the catheter system. The fluid flow mechanism provides continuous cooling to protect the intima during the ablation process, using fluid dynamics to manage thermal energy and prevent harmful heat accumulation
2Productivity
If the output of the laser light is increased to perform ablation with good efficiency in a short period of time, then ablation efficiency is improved, but damages such as burning and peeling may arise in a reflector
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling fluid serves as a protective intermediary between the high-power laser light and the reflector. By absorbing thermal energy from the reflector surface, the cooling fluid prevents excessive temperature rise that would cause burning or peeling, enabling safe use of high laser output for efficient ablation
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system provides self-protection for the reflector by continuously removing heat during operation. The fluid circulation automatically regulates the reflector temperature, allowing the system to maintain high laser output without manual intervention to prevent reflector damage
3Measurement precision
If a condenser lens is disposed in the catheter to focus laser light to the adventitia, then ablation can be performed, but the structure of the catheter becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the condenser lens from the catheter structure, extracting this complex optical component from the system. Instead, it uses a simpler light guide that delivers laser light directly to the target, achieving adequate focal control without the complexity of incorporating a lens within the catheter
4Measurement precision
If the focal position of the pulsed laser is adjusted to match the vascular wall thickness, then ablation accuracy is improved, but the position of the catheter must be precisely controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is designed to self-adjust its light delivery characteristics based on its position within the catheter. The diffusing structure automatically adapts to variations in catheter placement, providing consistent ablation效果 without requiring precise manual positioning or complex focal adjustment mechanisms
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 effectively heats tissues around the lumen while minimizing heat damage to the intima and preventing reflector damage, even with increased laser output, by ensuring uniform laser emission and cooling the inner surface.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide material guiding laser light into the balloon
Implementation Method 2
a reflector which reflects laser light emitted from the light guide material in a second direction crossing a first direction in which the light guide material is extended
Implementation Method 3
a fluid returning unit returning a fluid into the internal space of the balloon through the first lumen and the second lumen
Implementation Method 4
laser light emitted from the light guide material...heating tissues in a depth portion around the lumen
Data Source
AI summary
[Object] To provide an ablation system capable of suppressing heat damages to the lumen intima.[Solution] An ablation system 10 has an ablation device 11 in which a balloon 21 is provided on the distal end side of a shaft 22 and an in-side tube 27 causing a fluid to flow into the balloon 21, the internal space of the shaft 22 causing a fluid to flow out of the balloon 21, and an optical fiber 29 guiding laser light into the balloon 21 are individually provided along the shaft 22, a laser light generating unit 12 emitting laser light to the optical fiber 29, and a fluid returning unit 13 returning a fluid into the internal space of the balloon 21. The ablation device 11 has a reflector 33 reflecting laser light emitted from the optical fiber 29 in the balloon 21, in which the reflector 33 is movable along the axial direction 191 in the balloon 21 and is rotatable in the axial direction 101 as the axis line.