Biodegradable Implant for Precise Microwave Tissue Ablation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current microwave surgical devices lack precision in controlling ablative energy during tissue ablation procedures, leading to potential damage to healthy cells alongside cancerous cells.

Innovation Solution

A kit comprising an access catheter, an implant deployment tool, and a microwave delivery device, where the implant is doped with substances like drugs or biologics and configured to expand within the tissue, allowing precise delivery of microwave energy and potential expansion of the ablation zone.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If microwave ablative energy is applied to destroy cancerous cells, then malignant tissue is destroyed, but healthy cells may be damaged due to lack of precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselectivity of tissue destructionVSAvoiddamage to healthy cells

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment process is segmented into distinct phases: first deploying a biodegradable implant to the target site, then subsequently applying microwave energy. This segmentation allows the implant to be positioned precisely within the tumor mass before energy delivery, ensuring that the microwave energy is confined to the implant location and does not affect surrounding healthy tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The biodegradable implant is deployed into the target tissue before microwave energy is applied. This preliminary action establishes a defined treatment zone that guides subsequent energy delivery, allowing the surgeon to precisely control where the ablation will occur while protecting adjacent healthy structures from thermal damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If ablative energy is applied to destroy tumors, then cancerous cells are destroyed, but control and precision of the ablative energy is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of ablation zoneVSAvoidcontrol of ablative energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The biodegradable implant serves as an intermediary between the surgeon and the microwave energy. It acts as a physical template that defines the boundaries of the ablation zone, allowing indirect control of energy distribution. The implant's presence enables precise spatial control of where thermal damage occurs while simplifying the operational process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables dynamic control of microwave energy parameters (power, duration, frequency) during the procedure. By adjusting these parameters in response to real-time feedback and implant positioning, the surgeon can precisely control the extent and boundaries of the ablation zone to match the tumor dimensions while sparing healthy tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a large ablation zone is created to ensure complete tumor destruction, then all cancerous cells are destroyed, but more healthy tissue is damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of tumor destructionVSAvoidarea of healthy tissue damaged

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The biodegradable implant provides local quality control by being positioned only within the tumor mass. This localized presence ensures that microwave energy is concentrated specifically where needed (within the implant/tumor region) while leaving surrounding healthy tissue unaffected. The implant creates a spatially selective treatment zone that matches tumor geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the traditional mechanical approach of enlarging the ablation zone to ensure complete tumor coverage with a field-based approach using microwave energy confined to the implant location. This substitution allows complete tumor destruction through energy confinement rather than geometric expansion, thereby protecting adjacent healthy structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enhances the precision and specificity of tissue ablation by allowing controlled expansion of the ablation zone and delivery of therapeutic agents directly to the target area, minimizing damage to healthy tissue.

Implementation Method 1

microwave ablative energy is passed through the probe and into surrounding tissue to form an 'ablation zone.' The energy applied to the tissue denatures the cancerous cells at elevated temperatures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric heating: Dielectric Heating

Implementation Method 2

the implant is doped with radioactive material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadioactive decay: Radioactive Decay

Data Source

PatentUS12076223B2Methods and tools for treating diseased tissue

Publication Date: 2024.09.03 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

A kit for delivering microwave ablative energy to tissue and methods for using the kit are included. The kit includes an access catheter, an implant deployment tool, and a microwave delivery device. The implant deployment tool is configured to be inserted into the access catheter and has an implant disposed therein in a contracted state and being slidable out of a distal opening and expandable into an expanded state. The microwave delivery device is configured to deliver the microwave ablative energy to the tissue and to be advanced through the access catheter and slidably disposable within the implant when the implant is in the expanded state.