Cooled Hollow Coil Antenna for Consistent Tissue Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing minimally invasive ablation instruments face challenges in effectively cooling the conductive elements to prevent overheating and tissue damage during medical procedures, which can lead to charring and inconsistent ablation zones.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a conductive hollow coil member with a fluid cooling system that provides a flow of cooling fluid through a member lumen, combined with a choke structure to control current paths and enhance cooling efficiency, addresses overheating issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a conductive element is used for energy transmission in minimally invasive ablation instruments, then energy delivery to the target tissue is improved, but the conductive element overheats causing tissue damage and charring
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive element is segmented into multiple sections with alternating conductive and non-conductive portions. The non-conductive portions act as thermal barriers that segment the heat distribution, preventing localized overheating while maintaining overall energy delivery capability to the target tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
A cooling fluid is introduced as an intermediary substance that flows through channels within the conductive element. This cooling fluid directly contacts the conductive portions, absorbing excess heat and transferring it away from the target tissue area, thereby preventing overheating while preserving energy delivery function.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the conductive element is cooled to prevent overheating, then tissue damage is reduced, but the ablation zone becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is designed with non-uniform cooling characteristics - the cooling fluid flow rate and contact area are optimized at specific locations to maintain consistent temperature distribution along the conductive element. This ensures uniform energy delivery and consistent ablation zones while preventing harmful overheating effects.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors are integrated into the conductive element to provide real-time feedback on temperature distribution. This feedback is used to dynamically adjust the cooling fluid flow rate, ensuring that the conductive element maintains optimal temperature for consistent ablation while preventing tissue damage from overheating.
3Temperature
If cooling fluid flow is increased to improve cooling efficiency, then overheating is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling fluid channels are merged with the structural framework of the conductive element, combining the cooling function with the existing mechanical structure. This integration eliminates the need for separate cooling components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effective cooling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is designed to be self-regulating, where the cooling fluid flow automatically adjusts based on the operational state of the conductive element. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex external control mechanisms, reducing device complexity while ensuring adequate cooling efficiency.
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 solution effectively cools the conductive elements, reducing the risk of tissue damage and ensuring consistent ablation zones by maintaining optimal temperature control during minimally invasive procedures.
Implementation Method 1
providing a flow of cooling fluid through a member lumen of the conductive hollow coil member for cooling the conductive hollow coil member
Implementation Method 2
conducting energy through an energy transmission member, radiating energy from a conductive hollow coil member
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna system for tissue ablation includes an energy transmission member, a conductive hollow coil member coupled to the energy transmission member, and a fluid cooling system coupled to the conductive hollow coil member for providing a flow of cooling fluid through a member lumen of the conductive hollow coil member for cooling the conductive hollow coil member. In some examples, at least one of the antenna body, a choke member, and a hybrid choke member includes the conductive hollow coil member. In some examples, the hybrid choke member includes a choke portion wound around a portion of the energy transmission member, an antenna body portion wound around a portion of the energy transmission member, and an insulator portion extending between the choke portion and the antenna body portion. In some examples, the antenna system includes a sheath extending over the energy transmission member and the conductive hollow coil member.