Radiofrequency Aorta Electrodes for Abdominal Cancer Pain Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cancer pain management strategies, including opioid therapies and celiac plexus neurolysis, are inadequate due to significant adverse events and limited effectiveness in providing long-term relief for patients with abdominal cancer pain, leading to a substantial burden on healthcare systems and a decrease in quality of life.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the placement of multiple radiofrequency ablation electrodes within the abdominal aorta between the origins of the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries, with a surface electrode on the skin, to release radiofrequency energy and induce thermal alteration in nearby tissues, reducing pain by causing controllable nerve injury and altering sympathetic nerve activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If opioid analgesics are used to control cancer pain, then pain relief is achieved, but adverse effects and addiction risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus block as an intermediary intervention between the pain source and the patient's nervous system. This block acts as a mediator that interrupts pain signal transmission without requiring systemic opioid administration, thereby achieving pain relief while avoiding opioid-related adverse effects such as nausea, constipation, respiratory depression, and addiction.
2Reliability
If celiac plexus neurolysis is performed to relieve pain, then pain relief is achieved, but severe complications increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary imaging and planning using endoscopic ultrasound before administering the neurolytic agent. This preliminary action allows precise identification of the celiac plexus location and surrounding structures, enabling accurate needle placement while avoiding adjacent organs and vessels, thereby reducing the risk of severe complications such as organ perforation, bleeding, and abscess formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs real-time endoscopic ultrasound imaging feedback during the procedure to continuously monitor needle position and tissue response. This feedback mechanism allows dynamic adjustment of needle depth and angle, ensuring accurate delivery of the neurolytic agent to the celiac plexus while avoiding surrounding structures, thereby minimizing procedural complications.
3Reliability
If high-dose analgesics are used chronically, then pain control is maintained, but quality of life deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The celiac plexus block serves as an intermediary intervention that addresses the root cause of pain transmission rather than merely masking symptoms with high-dose analgesics. By interrupting pain signal transmission at the celiac plexus level, the procedure provides effective pain control while avoiding the quality of life deterioration associated with chronic high-dose analgesic use, including sedation, cognitive impairment, and functional limitations.
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
Significantly reduces visual analog pain scores and improves quality of life for cancer patients by providing effective pain palliation with reduced narcotic use and minimal adverse events, demonstrating a safer and more effective approach compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
releasing radiofrequency energy through at least one of the multiple electrodes to nearby tissues, so as to increase the temperature of the nearby tissues and induce a thermal alteration of the nearby tissues
Implementation Method 2
increase the temperature of the nearby tissues and induce a thermal alteration of the nearby tissues
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method of relieving or alleviating abdominal cancer pain or improving pain VAS score in a cancer patient Multiple electrodes are placed within a segment of the abdominal aorta of the patient and against blood vessel wall of the abdominal aorta. Radiofrequency energy is released through at least one of the multiple electrodes to nearby tissues, so as to increase the temperature of the nearby tissues and induce a thermal alteration of the nearby tissues.