Dielectric Balloon Plasma Endometrial Ablation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endometrial ablation methods using radiofrequency current face challenges such as slow treatment times, incomplete ablation, and risk of injury to adjacent organs due to non-uniform ablation depths and inadequate control over treatment precision.

Innovation Solution

An electrosurgical system employing an expandable thin-wall dielectric structure that capacitively couples radiofrequency current to endometrial tissue, using a neutral gas converted to plasma for controlled and uniform tissue ablation, with a method to assess uterine cavity integrity before treatment to prevent perforation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If solid electrodes or balloon electrodes are used for radiofrequency ablation, then endometrial ablation can be performed, but treatment time is relatively slow and ablation depth is non-uniform

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment timeVSAvoidablation depth uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the ablation medium from solid electrode contact to plasma state gas, and modifies the energy delivery mechanism by using capacitive coupling through a dielectric balloon. This allows rapid energy transfer while the balloon's uniform geometry ensures consistent ablation depth across the endometrial surface, resolving both the slow treatment time and non-uniform ablation depth issues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a dielectric balloon as an intermediary between the radiofrequency energy source and the endometrial tissue. The balloon is filled with gas that is ionized to plasma, which then capacitively couples the RF current to the tissue through the balloon wall. This intermediary enables rapid, uniform energy delivery without direct electrode contact, solving both speed and uniformity problems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If radiofrequency current is applied directly to tissue, then ablation is achieved, but there is risk of injury to adjacent organs due to non-uniform ablation depths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety of treatmentVSAvoidablation depth control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a thin dielectric balloon wall as a flexible shell that uniformly distributes the capacitive coupling effect across the entire endometrial surface. This thin film structure ensures consistent energy delivery and controlled ablation depth, preventing overheating and injury to adjacent organs while maintaining treatment reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates monitoring of gas flow rate and RF power delivery to provide feedback control. By monitoring the ionization state of the gas and the energy transfer efficiency, the system can adjust parameters to maintain uniform ablation depth and prevent injury to adjacent organs, enhancing both safety and precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If permeable mesh electrodes are used for radiofrequency ablation, then treatment can be performed, but ablation is incomplete and treatment precision is inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment precisionVSAvoidcompleteness of ablation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the ablation mechanism from direct electrode contact through permeable mesh to capacitive coupling through a sealed dielectric balloon filled with plasma. This parameter change enables complete and uniform ablation across the entire endometrial surface with precise depth control, eliminating the incompleteness and imprecision associated with mesh electrodes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 system enables rapid and controlled endometrial ablation with uniform tissue effect, reducing the risk of organ injury by ensuring uterine cavity integrity and precise energy delivery.

Implementation Method 1

using a neutral gas converted to plasma for controlled and uniform tissue ablation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonization: Ionisation

Implementation Method 2

capacitively coupling the current through an expandable, thin-wall dielectric member enclosing an ionized gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Implementation Method 3

applying radiofrequency current to endometrial tissue by means of capacitively coupling the current

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiofrequency heating: Dielectric Heating

Implementation Method 4

for endometrial ablation in a treatment of menorrhagia

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAblation: Ablation

Data Source

PatentUS9050102B2System and method for endometrial ablation

Publication Date: 2015.06.09 AXORA MEDICAL INC

AI summary

Methods, systems and devices for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity. A method comprises introducing transcervically a probe into a patient's uterine cavity, providing a flow of a fluid (e.g., CO2) through the probe into the uterine cavity and monitoring the rate of the flow to characterize the uterine cavity as perforated or non-perforated based on a change in the flow rate.