Conformal Laser Therapy System for Epithelial Lesion Depth Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current laser therapy methods for treating epithelial cancers and Barrett's esophagus face challenges in accurately controlling treatment depth, leading to incomplete therapy or excessive damage to surrounding tissues due to variability in tissue thickness and compliance, resulting in recurrence or complications.

Innovation Solution

The use of conformal laser therapy systems that apply a spatially scanned laser beam with modulated wavelength and power, controlled depth of penetration, and real-time monitoring to ensure precise thermal injury, minimizing collateral damage and optimizing treatment efficacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If laser therapy is applied to treat epithelial lesions, then therapeutic efficacy is improved, but treatment depth control becomes difficult leading to either incomplete therapy or excessive damage to surrounding tissues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic efficacyVSAvoidtreatment depth control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting laser wavelength, power, and pulse duration based on real-time tissue depth feedback. The system modifies these parameters to match the detected tissue depth, ensuring the laser energy penetrates to the precise treatment depth without damaging surrounding tissues, thereby resolving the contradiction between therapeutic efficacy and treatment depth control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback control by using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to continuously monitor tissue depth during laser therapy. The OCT images provide real-time depth information that feeds back to the laser control system, which automatically adjusts treatment parameters to maintain precise depth control, thus improving both therapeutic efficacy and depth precision simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If laser power is increased to ensure complete ablation of epithelial lesions, then therapeutic efficacy is improved, but collateral damage to adjacent tissues increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplete ablation of lesionsVSAvoidcollateral damage to adjacent tissues

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by delivering laser energy with highly localized precision using focused beams and selective scanning patterns. The OCT-guided system identifies the exact boundaries of the lesion and confines laser ablation only to the affected area, ensuring complete lesion removal while preserving adjacent healthy tissues, thus resolving the contradiction between complete ablation and minimizing collateral damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by using real-time OCT imaging to dynamically adjust the laser treatment field boundaries during the procedure. As the tissue depth and lesion extent are continuously monitored, the laser parameters and scanning pattern are dynamically modified to adapt to the actual tissue conditions, ensuring complete lesion ablation while protecting adjacent tissues from collateral damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If fixed depth therapy is applied to epithelial lesions, then treatment simplicity is maintained, but treatment accuracy decreases due to variability in tissue thickness and compliance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment simplicityVSAvoidtreatment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by implementing an automated feedback control system where the OCT imaging and laser delivery are integrated in a single device. The system automatically measures tissue depth, calculates appropriate treatment parameters, and executes the therapy without requiring manual adjustment by the operator, thus maintaining ease of operation while achieving high treatment accuracy through real-time depth adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 precise and comprehensive treatment of epithelial lesions while minimizing damage to adjacent tissues, improving therapeutic outcomes and reducing the risk of complications by controlling the depth and extent of laser therapy.

Implementation Method 1

a beam of the laser radiation can be provided to the portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Implementation Method 2

monitoring a depth of the application of the laser radiation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal injury: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS10426548B2Methods and systems for providing electromagnetic radiation to at least one portion of a sample using conformal laser therapy procedures

Publication Date: 2019.10.01 THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORP

AI summary

According one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, method and system can be provided for applying a laser radiation to at least one portion of a biological structure. For example, a beam of the laser radiation can be provided to the portion, whereas a cross-sectional area of the beam is at most about 1/10th of an entire area of the at least one portion. The beam can be applied to the portion (a) based on a predetermined pattern, (b) while modulating a wavelength of the laser radiation, and/or (c) while monitoring a depth of the application of the laser radiation.