Bipolar Coagulation Probe Snare Thermal Spread
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current uterine fibroid treatment methods, including pharmaceutical and surgical techniques, face challenges such as risk of relapse, infertility, and limited applicability to specific types of fibroids, with existing electrosurgical devices like monopolar snares experiencing thermal spread and inadequate bleeding control.
Innovation Solution
An electrosurgical device equipped with bipolar surface electrodes and a bipolar snare, featuring an electrically insulative member and circuitry for selective activation, minimizes thermal spread and bleeding by coagulating the excision site, allowing for efficient removal of pedunculated tissue structures like fibroids and polyps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a monopolar snare is used to excise pedunculated tissue structures, then the excision can be performed, but thermal spread occurs causing inadequate bleeding control
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the energy delivery system into two distinct bipolar components: a bipolar snare for excision and bipolar surface electrodes for coagulation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the surface electrodes placed in direct contact with the tissue to provide localized coagulation without the thermal spread associated with monopolar snares.
Solution Approach 2:
The bipolar surface electrodes act as an intermediary between the energy source and the tissue, delivering controlled bipolar energy directly to the excision site. This intermediary mechanism enables precise thermal control and effective coagulation by confining the electrical current path between the two bipolar electrodes, preventing the uncontrolled thermal spread seen with monopolar systems.
2Reliability
If separate devices are used for excision and coagulation, then each function can be optimized, but procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges the bipolar snare for excision and the bipolar surface electrodes for coagulation into a single integrated electrosurgical instrument. Both components are activated by the same energy source and can be used sequentially or simultaneously during the same procedure, eliminating the need to switch between separate devices and significantly reducing procedure time while maintaining optimized performance of both functions.
3Reliability
If bipolar surface electrodes are placed close together, then coagulation effectiveness increases, but short-circuiting may occur
Solution Approach 1:
An electrically insulative material is introduced as an intermediary between the two bipolar surface electrodes to prevent direct electrical contact and short-circuiting. This insulative material allows the electrodes to be positioned in optimal proximity for effective coagulation while maintaining electrical isolation, ensuring that current flows through the tissue rather than shorting between electrodes.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If bipolar energy is used instead of monopolar energy, then thermal spread is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the bipolar electrode system into distinct functional components (bipolar snare and bipolar surface electrodes) that can be independently optimized. This segmentation allows the complex bipolar configuration to be managed through modular design, where each component follows established bipolar principles, making the overall system more manageable despite the inherent complexity of bipolar energy delivery.
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 device effectively reduces bleeding and shortens procedure time by concurrently activating the snare and surface electrodes, providing controlled energy delivery for precise tissue excision and minimizing complications.
Implementation Method 1
current will flow from the first surface electrode, through adjacent tissue, to the second surface electrode so as to coagulate the point of tissue excision
Implementation Method 2
the bipolar snare and bipolar surface electrodes, when supplied with an appropriate signal, can concurrently be used to excise and coagulate, respectively
Data Source
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AI summary
An electrosurgical device (100) that can be used to remove pedunculated tissue structures such as polyps and certain uterine fibroids includes bipolar surface electrodes (122, 124) and a bipolar snare (110). The device includes a probe (130) having a proximal end (134) and a distal end (132), bipolar surface electrodes (122, 124) adjacent to the distal end of the probe, and a bipolar snare (110) extending distally from the distal end of the probe and including first and second snare electrodes (112, 114). The bipolar surface electrodes (122, 124) are separated from each other by a gap and extend over a portion of the distal end of the probe. Providing both a bipolar snare and bipolar surface electrodes advantageously reduces thermal spread from occurring (compared to the use of a monopolar snare) when using the snare to excise the tissue. The bipolar surface electrodes can be used to coagulate the point of excision.