Catheter Direct Current Tissue Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) often involve thermal methods that can cause side effects and damage adjacent tissues, and there is a need for a minimally invasive, non-thermal approach for effectively treating prostate tissue.
Innovation Solution
A non-implantable system using direct current ablation that imparts extreme pH into tissue surrounding electrodes, creating necrosis without significant temperature increase, suitable for treating BPH and other tissues like cancerous and benign tumors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal methods are used to treat prostate tissue, then tissue ablation is effective, but adjacent tissues may be damaged and side effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter used for tissue ablation from thermal energy to electrical current. The system applies direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) to create electrolysis-based tissue destruction through extreme pH changes rather than heat, thereby achieving effective ablation while protecting adjacent tissues from thermal damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal mechanism with an electrical/chemical mechanism. Instead of using heat generation through RF, microwave, or laser energy, the system uses electrical current to induce electrolysis reactions that create extreme pH environments (acidic at anode, basic at cathode) to destroy target tissue non-thermally
2Ease of operation
If minimally invasive treatments are used, then patient recovery is faster and pain is reduced, but treatment precision and control may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating highly localized treatment zones through electrode placement. The extreme pH changes occur only in the immediate vicinity of each electrode (anode or cathode), allowing precise control over which specific prostate tissue is affected while leaving surrounding areas intact. This enables minimally invasive treatment with high spatial precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the treatment approach by using multiple discrete electrodes that can be independently controlled. Each electrode creates its own localized treatment zone, and the system can selectively activate specific electrodes based on the anatomical location and extent of the prostate tissue requiring treatment, thereby achieving both minimally invasive access and precise treatment control
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 system provides effective tissue ablation with minimal side effects, precise control over treatment zones, and reduced risk to adjacent tissues, offering a faster recovery and lower risk of complications compared to traditional thermal treatments.
Implementation Method 1
DC current ablates tissue by imparting extreme pH into the tissue surrounding the electrode
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for non-thermal ablation of tissue are provided. A non-implantable minimally invasive system for treatment of tissue in a body via direct current ablation is provided. A catheter for use in such system is further provided. The catheter includes a tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a tip positioned at the distal end. The tubular body is semi-flexible, bi-directionally torqueable, and chemically resistant. The tubular body includes a plurality of routing holes provided between the proximal end and the distal end for facilitating deployment of electrodes from the tubular body. The tubular body further comprises an inner sheath generally at an interior portion and an outer sheath generally at an exterior portion and being chemically resistant.