Cold Plasma Electrosurgical System for Selective Cancer Cell Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrosurgical methods, such as argon plasma coagulation, cause thermal damage to tissues during cancer cell removal, leading to non-selective tissue ablation and potential metastasis, while lacking the precision to target cancer cells effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a Conversion Unit (CU) connected to an electrosurgical generator and a Cold Plasma Probe (CPP) that produces thermally harmless cold plasma, specifically designed to target and kill cancer cells without affecting normal cells, utilizing a high voltage transformer and inert gases like helium to generate a non-thermal plasma.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal-based electrosurgical methods are used to remove cancer cells, then cancer cell removal is achieved, but thermal damage to surrounding tissues occurs leading to non-selective ablation and potential metastasis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of plasma temperature from high (thermal) to low (cold atmospheric plasma at or near room temperature), enabling selective cancer cell destruction without thermal damage to surrounding tissues. The system maintains plasma's cytotoxic effects while eliminating harmful thermal effects by operating at atmospheric pressure with controlled low-temperature discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal mechanism (heat-based electrosurgical ablation) with a chemical/biochemical mechanism (cold plasma reactive species). Instead of using thermal energy to destroy cells, the system uses reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, ultraviolet radiation, and other non-thermal plasma components to achieve selective cancer cell killing while preserving normal tissue.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional laser surgery is used for tissue removal, then cell removal is achieved, but accidental cell death and permanent tissue damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the energy delivery parameter from high-temperature thermal energy to low-temperature chemical energy. By operating cold atmospheric plasma at or near room temperature, the system achieves precise cell-level effects through reactive species while avoiding the thermal diffusion that causes necrosis and permanent damage in laser surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the tissue interaction mechanism into specific molecular and cellular effects. Cold plasma interacts with individual cells and molecules through reactive species, allowing selective modification or destruction of target cells without the bulk thermal effects that cause unwanted necrosis in conventional laser surgery.
3Reliability
If cold plasma is used to target cancer cells selectively, then normal cells are preserved, but the system complexity increases compared to conventional methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the electrosurgical generator universally capable of producing both conventional thermal plasma and cold atmospheric plasma by integrating a conversion unit that can operate in different modes. This multi-functionality allows the same base system to perform traditional electrosurgery or cold plasma surgery depending on the clinical need, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a conversion unit as an intermediary component between the electrosurgical generator and the treatment probe. This intermediary transforms the electrical output into either conventional or cold plasma, simplifying the overall system architecture by using a single generator platform rather than requiring separate specialized systems.
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 effectively produces cold plasma that is lethal to cancer cells while preserving normal cells, offering a minimally invasive method for selective cancer cell removal and potential reduction in metastasis, addressing the limitations of existing thermal-based cancer therapies.
Implementation Method 1
cold plasmas produced by dielectric barrier discharge
Implementation Method 2
Cold non-thermal atmospheric plasmas can have tremendous applications in biomedical technology
Data Source
AI summary
A system that does conversion from regular hot plasma produced by ESU to cold plasma which is thermally harmless for the tissue. The system is comprised of Conversion Unit and Cold Plasma Probe. Output signal for ESU connects to CU along with Helium flow. The CU converts signal from ESU and send it to the output connector along with helium flow. Cold Plasma Probe is connected directly to the CU output. At the end of the CPP probe cold plasma is produced.