Condensable Vapor Prostate Tissue Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for prostate tissue, such as RF ablation and laser ablation, face challenges like tissue carbonization and prolonged healing times due to potential inflammatory responses and longer recovery periods.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a tissue extraction member inserted into the urethra, which rotates and delivers condensable vapor and high-pressure liquid pulses to aspirate prostate tissue, with optional occlusion members and heat sealing of tissue margins to minimize bleeding and enhance healing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-frequency current or laser ablation is used to treat prostate tissue, then tissue ablation is achieved, but tissue carbonization occurs resulting in increased inflammatory response and longer healing time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state parameter of the ablation medium from solid (electrode/laser) to gas (pressurized vapor). The vapor delivers thermal energy without contact, eliminating carbonization. The pressurized state enhances penetration and distribution throughout the tissue volume, achieving reliable ablation without the harmful side effects of traditional methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical contact system (electrode or laser beam) with a pressurized gas vapor system. The vapor penetrates tissue through pressure-driven flow rather than mechanical contact, delivering thermal energy uniformly without causing carbonization. This substitution eliminates the source of inflammatory response while maintaining ablation effectiveness.
2Productivity
If traditional ablation methods are used, then tissue removal is achieved, but healing time is prolonged due to inflammatory response
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes phase transition of water from liquid to pressurized vapor. The phase change enables the medium to penetrate tissue more effectively and deliver thermal energy uniformly. The vapor condenses within tissue, releasing latent heat for controlled ablation without excessive temperatures that would prolong healing. This phase transition mechanism achieves efficient tissue removal with minimized inflammatory response and faster healing.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressurized vapor acts as an intermediary medium between the energy source and target tissue. It carries thermal energy deep into tissue without direct contact, distributing energy uniformly to achieve complete ablation. The vapor then condenses and is evacuated, leaving no residual carbonized material to extend healing time. This intermediary approach decouples energy delivery from tissue contact, resolving the time contradiction.
3Productivity
If high pressure liquid is injected at high pulse rates, then tissue disintegration is enhanced, but fluid injection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the vapor delivery system with the liquid ejection system into a single integrated catheter assembly. The vapor source, liquid reservoir, and ejection mechanisms are combined in one device, simplifying operation despite the complexity of delivering both pressurized vapor and high-pressure liquid pulses simultaneously for enhanced tissue disintegration.
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 approach allows for efficient removal of prostate tissue with reduced inflammatory response and shorter healing times by using condensable vapor and high-pressure liquid to disintegrate and aspirate tissue, while heat sealing the margins to prevent bleeding.
Implementation Method 1
injecting condensable vapor from the tissue extraction member
Implementation Method 2
delivering between 100 W and 1000 W to the prostate
Implementation Method 3
injecting high pressure liquid from the tissue extraction member into the urethra
Implementation Method 4
The high pressure liquid can be injected in pulses between 1 pulse/second and 100 pulses/second
Implementation Method 5
aspirating prostate tissue into the tissue extraction member
Implementation Method 6
heat sealing tissue margins around extracted tissue in the prostate
Data Source
AI summary
A prostate therapy system is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can access a prostate lobe from the urethra. Another feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can deliver condensable vapor into the prostate to ablate the prostate tissue. Another feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can aspirate tissue from the prostate. Yet another feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can rotate during delivery of vapor and aspiration of tissue. Methods associated with use of the prostate therapy system are also covered.