Coaxial Electrosurgical Tissue Extraction for Small Hysteroscopes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hysteroscopic instruments for uterine fibroid removal are too large in diameter, requiring anesthesia and cervical dilation, limiting their use to an operating room environment.
Innovation Solution
An electrosurgical cutting device with an outer and inner tube, each formed from electrically conductive materials, and a dielectric structure around the cutting window, optimized for plasma generation and tissue cutting, allowing for small diameter insertion through a hysteroscope.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If conventional hysteroscopic resection devices are used, then effective cutting and removal of uterine fibroids is achieved, but the device diameter is too large requiring anesthesia and cervical dilation
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting device is nested within the hysteroscope, with the inner tube containing the cutting electrode and outer tube providing structural support. This nested configuration allows the cutting mechanism to be contained within a small diameter hysteroscope (5-7 mm), eliminating the need for large diameter instruments while maintaining cutting effectiveness through the reciprocating motion of the inner tube relative to the outer tube.
2Ease of operation
If conventional large diameter instruments are used, then adequate cutting power is available, but anesthesia and operating room environment are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical cutting systems with an electrosurgical system that uses radiofrequency energy to generate plasma at the cutting interface. The inner and outer tubes serve as electrodes that deliver controlled electrical energy to cut tissue, enabling effective fibroid removal through a small diameter hysteroscope without requiring anesthesia or operating room settings.
3Adaptability or versatility
If small diameter hysteroscope is used, then outpatient procedures become possible, but plasma generation and cutting effectiveness become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent concentrates electrical energy delivery at the local cutting interface where the inner and outer tubes meet, generating plasma only at this specific location rather than along the entire length of the instruments. The dielectric material is positioned specifically at the cutting window to facilitate controlled plasma generation, enabling effective tissue cutting through the small diameter hysteroscope while maintaining outpatient procedure feasibility.
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 effective cutting and removal of uterine fibroids through a small diameter hysteroscope, reducing the need for anesthesia and enabling outpatient procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The dimensions and geometry of the dielectric structure are chosen to optimize plasma generation about a cutting end or electrode at a distal end of the inner electrode as the inner electrode is advanced (with radiofrequency energy being applied) past the cutting window
Implementation Method 2
The tubes are each formed from or include electrically conductive materials so that they act as the electrodes of the electrosurgical cutting device when connected to opposite poles of an electrosurgical power supply
Data Source
AI summary
A tissue resection device comprises inner and outer coaxial sleeves. The outer sleeve has a cutting window formed therein, and the inner sleeve has a distal cutting end that can be reciprocated past the cutting window. The sleeves comprise electrodes to provide electrosurgical cutting, and an edge portion of the window includes a dielectric material.