Cryogenic Probe Filtration System for Impurity Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryogenic medical devices for cosmetic and dermatological treatments face challenges due to impurities in the cooling fluid, which affect temperature control and performance, leading to potential tissue injury and reduced effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A cryogenic device with a filtration system that includes a particulate filter and a molecular filter, configured to remove impurities from the coolant pathway and cartridge, ensuring the coolant is purified before reaching the treatment area, utilizing hydrophobic and oleophobic materials to enhance filtration efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cooling fluid is used from a general-purpose source, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but temperature control precision deteriorates and tissue injury risk increases due to impurities
Solution Approach 1:
A filtration system is introduced as an intermediary component between the cooling fluid source and the cryogenic probe. The filter device includes a particulate filter element and a molecular filter element that work together to remove impurities from the cooling fluid, allowing the use of general-purpose cooling fluid sources while maintaining precise temperature control and preventing tissue injury
2Device complexity
If cooling fluid is used from a general-purpose source, then device complexity is reduced, but treatment reliability deteriorates due to impurities affecting cooling performance
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system acts as a mediator that enables the use of simple, general-purpose cooling fluid sources while ensuring treatment reliability. The particulate and molecular filter elements work together to remove impurities that would otherwise compromise cooling performance and treatment consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The filtration system performs preliminary action by filtering the cooling fluid before it enters the cryogenic probe and treatment pathway. This pre-filtration removes impurities that could affect treatment reliability, allowing the system to maintain high performance without requiring complex purified fluid sources
3Device complexity
If impurities are present in the cooling fluid pathway, then device complexity is reduced, but treatment accuracy deteriorates and tissue injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system serves as an intermediary that protects the treatment pathway from impurities. By placing filter elements in the cooling fluid pathway, the system maintains treatment accuracy and prevents tissue injury while still allowing the use of relatively simple cooling fluid sources
4Measurement precision
If a filtration system is added to remove impurities, then temperature control precision and treatment reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is designed as a compact intermediary assembly that integrates both particulate and molecular filter elements in a space-efficient configuration. This allows the system to achieve precise temperature control while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The filtration system combines multiple filtering functions (particulate filtration and molecular filtration) into a single integrated device assembly. This merging of functions achieves comprehensive impurity removal while minimizing the space and complexity added to the overall system
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 filtration system effectively removes impurities, improving temperature control and treatment accuracy, reducing tissue injury and enhancing the efficacy of cryogenic treatments for cosmetic and dermatological applications.
Implementation Method 1
The filter device can include at least one particulate filter configured to filter particulates
Implementation Method 2
a molecular filter configured to capture fluid contaminants received from the cartridge and from the coolant pathway
Implementation Method 3
The filter device can also include a filtration media that is modified to be hydrophobic and/or oleophobic
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A cryogenic device having a filter device fluidly connected between a valve and a cooling fluid cartridge. The filter device filters solid and fluid impurities received from the cartridge. The filter device also captures fluid impurities from the cryogenic device when not in use.