Angled HF Electrode for Lateral Tissue Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical instruments for minimally invasive surgery, such as resectoscopes, are limited in their ability to access and remove tissue located laterally to the insertion axis due to their rigid design, making it difficult to precisely target and remove tissue in areas like the bladder neck and prostate without causing damage.
Innovation Solution
A medical instrument with a hollow shaft and an electrically insulated HF electrode that can be adjusted in angular orientation relative to the shaft, allowing it to protrude radially beyond the shaft's circumference, enabling controlled positioning and access to tissue areas distant from the insertion axis through adjustable mechanisms like flexible connecting sections, memory materials, and deflection elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the resectoscope is rigidly constructed to facilitate placement and provide good guidance, then the stability and guidance capability are improved, but the ability to access tissue located laterally to the insertion axis deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is divided into a rigid proximal shaft for stable insertion and guidance, and a flexible distal region containing the HF electrode that can be independently angled. This segmentation allows the proximal part to maintain stability while the distal part adapts to access lateral tissue through angular adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The HF electrode assembly is designed with dynamic angular adjustment capability through flexible connecting sections and deflection elements. The electrode can be angled relative to the shaft centerline, transforming the static rigid structure into a dynamic system that adapts to different tissue locations while maintaining overall instrument stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traumatic leveraging or tilting of the resectoscope is used to reach lateral tissue, then the ability to access lateral tissue is improved, but the risk of tissue damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The HF electrode is designed with controlled angular adjustment capability through flexible connecting sections that allow the electrode to be angled relative to the shaft without requiring traumatic leveraging of the entire instrument. This dynamic adjustment enables safe access to lateral tissue by isolating the angling action to the distal electrode region.
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible connecting sections with controlled flexibility are introduced between the shaft and HF electrode. These flexible elements enable the electrode to be positioned at angles to reach lateral tissue while the flexibility absorbs mechanical stress, preventing transmission of traumatic forces to surrounding healthy tissue.
3Device complexity
If the RF electrode is fixed along the centerline of the instrument, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the ability to ablate tissue away from the insertion axis is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is segmented into a rigid shaft and a flexible distal region with the HF electrode. This segmentation allows the electrode to be angled relative to the shaft centerline through the flexible connecting section, enabling ablation of tissue away from the insertion axis while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The angular orientation of the HF electrode is made variable through the flexible connecting section, allowing the electrode angle to be adjusted as needed. This parameter change enables the same simple structure to achieve multiple ablation positions by changing only the electrode angle rather than requiring complex mechanical systems.
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
Enables precise and minimally invasive removal of tissue in traditionally difficult-to-reach areas by allowing the HF electrode to be angled and positioned accurately, reducing the risk of damage to healthy tissue and improving surgical precision.
Implementation Method 1
An RF electrode is inserted into the bladder, to which a high-frequency alternating current is applied to remove harmful or damaged tissue
Implementation Method 2
adjustable mechanisms like flexible connecting sections, memory materials, and deflection elements
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a medical instrument 1 for minimally invasive tissue ablation using a radiofrequency (RF) electrode 10, comprising a hollow shaft 2, 3, wherein the RF electrode 10 is electrically insulated from the hollow shaft, is arranged at a distal end 6 thereof, and projects at least partially axially beyond the hollow shaft 2, 3 for tissue ablation. According to the invention, the angular orientation of the RF electrode 10 relative to the hollow shaft 2, 3 can be adjusted in a controlled manner to a working position in which the RF electrode, viewed from the front of the hollow shaft 2, 3, projects radially beyond an outer circumference of the hollow shaft for tissue ablation. In the working position, a position can always be found by suitable adjustment of the shaft and the RF electrode in which the distal end of the RF electrode sufficiently reaches or touches the tissue sections to be ablated in the region of the bladder neck.One preferred use is as a resectoscope for transurethral resection in the area of the bladder neck or the prostate.