Inflatable Balloon Ablation Probe for Controlled Lung Microwave Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ablation procedures in non-homogenous tissues like the lungs face challenges due to unpredictable thermal energy distribution, leading to improper treatment of lesions and overheating of healthy tissue.
Innovation Solution
The use of an inflatable balloon coupled to an ablation probe, which is inflated to create a homogeneous energy delivery environment, controlling the ablation zone and ensuring consistent energy transfer by using a dielectric fluid to maintain a stable dielectric load and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If microwave ablation is performed in non-homogenous lung tissue, then deeper penetration and faster heating are achieved, but unpredictable thermal energy distribution causes improper treatment of lesions and overheating of healthy tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a balloon as an intermediary device filled with dielectric fluid (such as saline or glycerin) that acts as a mediator between the microwave ablation probe and the non-homogenous lung tissue. This intermediary creates a homogeneous energy delivery environment, ensuring predictable and uniform thermal energy distribution while maintaining precise control over the ablation zone boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and dielectric properties of the medium surrounding the ablation probe by inflating the balloon with dielectric fluid. This parameter change transforms the non-homogenous lung tissue environment into a homogeneous dielectric medium, enabling predictable microwave energy propagation and precise thermal control during ablation.
2Temperature
If RF energy is used for ablation, then shallower burns are produced, but energy dissipation is rapid and grounding is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the frequency parameter of the electromagnetic energy from RF range to microwave range, which fundamentally alters the penetration depth and energy deposition characteristics. Microwave frequency enables deeper tissue penetration while maintaining efficient energy deposition without requiring grounding, as the dielectric-filled balloon creates a controlled impedance environment.
3Loss of time
If ablation probe is inserted directly into lung tissue, then immediate treatment is possible, but non-homogenous tissue causes unpredictable energy spread
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by inflating the balloon with dielectric fluid before delivering microwave energy. This preliminary step creates a homogeneous energy delivery environment in advance, ensuring consistent and predictable thermal energy distribution throughout the ablation procedure without delaying treatment.
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 inflatable balloon system provides predictable and consistent ablation zones, enhancing energy transfer efficiency and reducing the risk of overheating, while preserving tissue dielectric properties and minimizing scar tissue formation.
Implementation Method 1
microwave energy is being used as the ablating energy source
Implementation Method 2
Microwave energy is an effective energy source for heating biological tissues
Implementation Method 3
using a dielectric fluid to maintain a stable dielectric load
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical system is disclosed including a probe and a balloon operatively coupled to the probe. The probe includes a shaft, an antenna extending from the shaft, and a conductor extending through the antenna and operable to deliver energy to tissue of a patient. The balloon is transitionable between an inflated state and a deflated state. In the inflated state, the balloon maintains a position of the antenna relative to the tissue and enhances energy delivery from the conductor to the tissue.