Coiled Vapor Generating Element in Ablation Handpiece

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Vapor ablation techniques for bronchoscopic procedures face challenges with heat loss during vapor delivery to lung tissue, risking collateral damage to healthy lung tissue due to remote vapor generation systems.

Innovation Solution

A vapor ablation handpiece with a coiled vapor generating element integrated within the handpiece, utilizing a mandrel to maintain a gap between coil turns and incorporating thermocouples for temperature control, minimizes heat loss by heating liquid directly within the handpiece and delivering condensable vapor efficiently through a catheter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If vapor is generated remotely and delivered through a flow path, then vapor delivery is achieved, but heat loss occurs along the flow path

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat lossVSAvoidremote vapor generation system

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the vapor generation function directly into the catheter by integrating a heating element within the catheter body, eliminating the separate remote vapor generator. This integration merges the vapor delivery and vapor generation functions into a single unified device, thereby eliminating heat loss along a separate flow path while reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a phase change material or cooling medium as an intermediary substance within the catheter to maintain vapor temperature during delivery. This intermediary substance absorbs or releases heat as needed, compensating for heat loss in the delivery path and ensuring consistent vapor temperature reaches the target tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If more vapor is delivered to increase ablation effectiveness, then ablation efficacy improves, but collateral damage to healthy lung tissue increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveablation efficacyVSAvoidcollateral damage to healthy tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs multiple heating zones or adjustable heating elements within the catheter, allowing different sections to be heated to different temperatures or activated selectively. This enables precise control over where and how much vapor is generated, concentrating the ablation effect on the target tissue while minimizing vapor dispersion to adjacent healthy tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates temperature sensors that provide real-time feedback on tissue temperature and vapor delivery conditions. This feedback is used to dynamically adjust the heating power and vapor flow rate, ensuring that sufficient vapor is delivered to achieve complete ablation of diseased tissue while automatically reducing delivery when approaching safe temperature thresholds for healthy tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

This solution reduces heat loss and ensures precise temperature control, minimizing risk to healthy lung tissue while effectively ablating diseased tissue, thereby improving the efficacy of vapor ablation procedures.

Implementation Method 1

A voltage difference is supplied across the length of the vapor generating element when activated, causing the vapor generating element to heat liquid therein converting the liquid to a condensable vapor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

A vapor generating element arranged in a coil shape... minimizes heat loss by heating liquid directly within the handpiece

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

thermocouples are mounted or incorporated into locations along the flow path of the fluid. Temperature information is sent to a controller to monitor and adjust the voltage applied to the vapor generating element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSeebeck effect: Seebeck Effect

Implementation Method 4

The condensable vapor is delivered to a target tissue through the catheter... heating the target tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS20230042024A1Vapor ablation handpiece

Publication Date: 2023.02.09 UPTAKE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A vapor ablation handpiece for assisting a physician perform vapor ablation with a vapor ablation catheter includes a vapor generating element arranged in a coil shape. A mandrel seated in the body of the handpiece affixes the vapor generating element in the coiled arrangement. A voltage difference is supplied across the length of the vapor generating element when activated, causing the vapor generating element to heat liquid therein converting the liquid to vapor. The heated condensable vapor is delivered to a target tissue through the catheter.