Cryoprobe Heater Control for Bleeding-Free Needle Repositioning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cryoablation apparatuses and methods face challenges in safely repositioning needles during treatments, as they may transfer abnormal tissue or cause bleeding, particularly when moving the needle after initial placement.

Innovation Solution

The apparatuses and methods utilize a cautery feature to raise the temperature of the needle to cauterize surrounding tissue, providing real-time feedback and control to ensure complete cauterization before allowing needle movement, thereby minimizing tissue transfer and bleeding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the needle is moved after being placed at or near target tissue, then the needle can be repositioned to achieve better treatment outcomes, but abnormal tissue may be transferred to neighboring healthy tissue or locations absent of abnormal tissue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle repositioning capabilityVSAvoidabnormal tissue transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs cauterization of the tissue tract before needle repositioning by heating the needle to a temperature sufficient to coagulate tissue (typically 60-100°C). This preliminary thermal treatment seals the tissue pathway, preventing abnormal tissue cells from being dislodged and transferred during subsequent needle movement, thereby enabling safe repositioning while eliminating the harmful tissue transfer effect

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the needle is moved after insertion, then repositioning can be achieved, but bleeding may occur causing undesirable effects on the patient and additional recovery time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle repositioning capabilityVSAvoidbleeding

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies thermal energy to the needle and surrounding tissue before needle repositioning, heating the tissue tract to a coagulation temperature. This preliminary thermal coagulation seals blood vessels and stops bleeding in advance, allowing the needle to be moved without causing hemorrhage or requiring additional recovery time, thus eliminating the bleeding harmful effect while preserving repositioning capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the needle is moved without cauterization, then the procedure is simpler and faster, but the likelihood of tissue transfer and bleeding increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedure efficiencyVSAvoidsafety of needle repositioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system combines the cauterization function and needle repositioning function into a single integrated workflow. The control system automatically sequences the thermal treatment and needle movement operations, merging two separate procedural steps into one coordinated process. This integration maintains high safety standards by ensuring cauterization precedes repositioning, while preserving procedural efficiency through automated control and streamlined operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 reduces the likelihood of transferring abnormal tissue and minimizes bleeding by ensuring complete cauterization before repositioning the needle, enhancing the safety and efficiency of cryoablation treatments.

Implementation Method 1

energizing a heater in the cryoprobe to heat a tip of the cryoprobe to a predetermined cautery temperature threshold

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

cooling the tip of the cryoprobe to a temperature less than or equal to a movement temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

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

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

This removal of heat causes tissue to freeze, resulting in the destruction of the targeted tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentUS20260041478A1Cryoablation apparatuses and related methods for needle repositioning

Publication Date: 2026.02.12 VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

A method of positioning a cryoprobe includes receiving a cryoprobe repositioning selector indicating a desire to reposition a cryoprobe relative to a target tissue; obtaining cryoprobe operating information from one or more sensors positioned in the cryoprobe, wherein the cryoprobe operating information characterizes one or more operating parameters of the cryoprobe; energizing a heater in the cryoprobe to heat a tip of the cryoprobe to a predetermined cautery temperature threshold; and displaying a cautery indicator when the tip of the cryoprobe is greater than or equal to the cautery temperature threshold.