Cryoablation Probe Handle Heating for Rapid Thawing and Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ablation treatment systems face challenges in providing cryo, heating, and sensing capabilities while minimizing the size of the probe inserted into a patient and reducing harm to healthy tissues.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a heater in the probe handle allows for improved heating cycles and closed-loop sensing, enabling real-time adjustments during treatments, with the heater positioned in the handle to heat the needle without enlarging its size, and incorporating different fluidic materials for cooling and heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a heater is integrated into the probe handle to enable heating cycles, then heating capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented from the needle and placed in the handle, allowing the needle to remain simple while the handle contains the heater and fluidic pathways for heating cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The same fluid pathway in the needle is used for both cryogen delivery during freezing cycles and for heating fluid delivery during heating cycles, making the fluidic system multi-functional
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the probe size is minimized to reduce patient impact, then patient impact is reduced, but the ability to provide multiple functions (cryo, heating, sensing) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is positioned in the handle rather than in the needle, utilizing the handle volume to provide heating functionality without increasing needle size or complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid pathway serves dual purposes: delivering cryogen during freezing cycles and delivering heating fluid during heating cycles, enabling multiple functions through a single integrated system
3Loss of time
If rapid thawing is achieved through heating, then treatment time is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is positioned in the handle to pre-heat the heating fluid before it reaches the needle, enabling rapid thawing while efficiently utilizing energy
Solution Approach 2:
The same fluid pathway is used continuously for both cooling and heating operations, eliminating the need for separate systems and reducing overall energy consumption
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 design reduces treatment time, minimizes damage to healthy tissues, and enhances treatment effectiveness by allowing for rapid thawing, coagulation, and denaturing of proteins, while reducing the risk of contamination and bleeding.
Implementation Method 1
A heater positioned in the handle may be used to heat the needle for various purposes
Implementation Method 2
Heat from the tissue passes from the tissue, through the probe, and into the cryogen that removes heat from the targeted tissue. This removal of heat causes tissue to freeze, resulting in the destruction of the targeted tissue. When the tissue freezes, ice forms typically in an iceball.
Implementation Method 3
The probe may also be used during treatments to heat the probe and/or a localized region at the target tissue. Such heating operations may be used to perform various operations such as to promote coagulation
Data Source
AI summary
A probe for performing a cryoablation treatment that includes a handle with a heater configured to heat a fluid and a needle connected to the handle and extending therefrom to a distal end. The needle includes a pathway configured to move the fluid from the handle toward the distal end to heat the needle.