Cavitary Tissue Ablation System With Real-Time Feedback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ablation devices lack precise control over RF energy emission, leading to unintended exposure to vital organs and critical structures during tissue ablation procedures, particularly in cases where uniform or non-uniform ablation patterns are required, and fail to effectively treat residual marginal tissue around tumor cavities.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a controller configured to receive feedback data from sensors during an ablation procedure, allowing for real-time processing and generation of ablation patterns to control energy emission from an electrode array, ensuring targeted ablation of marginal tissue while avoiding vital structures by independently activating conductive wires and adjusting energy parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radiation therapy is used to treat residual marginal tissue, then cancer cells can be eradicated, but healthy tissue is adversely affected and treatment is costly and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation device divides the treatment area into multiple independently controllable zones using separate electrode arrays. Each electrode can be independently activated to deliver RF energy to specific regions of marginal tissue, allowing selective treatment of cancer-prone areas while sparing adjacent healthy structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different energy levels and treatment parameters to different locations within the marginal tissue. By controlling which electrodes are active and at what power levels, the device creates localized ablation zones that match the specific anatomical and pathological characteristics of each region, treating residual cancer cells while preserving healthy tissue.
2Reliability
If uniform ablation is applied to all marginal tissue, then comprehensive treatment is achieved, but vital organs and critical structures may be exposed to unintended RF energy
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation device transitions from static, uniform energy delivery to dynamic, adaptive control. The system continuously monitors tissue characteristics and adjusts electrode activation patterns in real-time, enabling the treatment zone to dynamically adapt to the boundaries between pathological and healthy tissue, thereby comprehensively treating marginal tissue while protecting vital structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates real-time feedback mechanisms that monitor tissue response during ablation. This feedback information is used to adjust energy delivery parameters and electrode activation patterns, ensuring that treatment is maintained within safe boundaries while achieving comprehensive coverage of residual cancer cells in the marginal tissue.
3Ease of operation
If manual manipulation of needle-based electrodes is used, then RF energy can be delivered to marginal tissue, but precise control over energy emission is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical manipulation of electrodes with automated electronic control. A computer-controlled system manages electrode activation, energy delivery parameters, and treatment timing, eliminating the imprecision of manual operation and enabling accurate, reproducible control over RF energy emission to the exact millimeter and second required for safe and effective marginal tissue ablation.
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
Enables precise and customized ablation patterns, ensuring comprehensive treatment of residual tissue while minimizing exposure to vital organs, thereby improving the effectiveness and safety of the ablation process.
Implementation Method 1
deliver radiofrequency (RF) energy to marginal tissue surrounding the cavity following the procedure
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is a system for monitoring and controlling tissue ablation. The system includes a controller configured to selectively control energy emission from an electrode array of an ablation device based on ablation feedback received during an ablation procedure with the ablation device. The controller is configured to receive feedback data from one or more sensors during the ablation procedure, the feedback data comprising one or more measurements associated with at least one of operation of the electrode array of the ablation device and tissue adjacent to the electrode array. The controller is further configured to generate an ablation pattern for controlling energy emission from the electrode array of the ablation device in response to the received feedback data.