Disposable Needle Injector for Single-Dose Thermal Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tissue ablation systems are complex and expensive, requiring sophisticated generators and control systems to deliver precise, localized thermal energy for procedures like nerve ablation, vascular malformations, and tumors, which is not efficiently addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
Development of single-use, disposable tissue ablation devices with a rigid or flexible body and a distal needle portion that contains subcritical water as a thermal flow medium, which can be heated to deliver a pre-set amount of ablative energy to tissue using a simple energy source like a battery, with mechanisms for controlled release and energy delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional ablation systems are used to deliver precise thermal energy to tissue, then ablation effectiveness is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation system is divided into separate functional modules: a reusable handle containing the heating mechanism and a disposable needle injector containing the thermal transfer medium. This segmentation allows the complex heating system to be manufactured once and reused, while the simple disposable portion can be precisely dosed for each procedure, reducing overall system complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal transfer medium (water) is pre-loaded into the needle injector at a controlled volume before the procedure. The heating mechanism is pre-assembled in the handle with all necessary components. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex real-time dosing and control systems during the procedure, simplifying the overall system while maintaining precision.
2Measurement precision
If sophisticated generators and control systems are used for ablation, then precise energy delivery is achieved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the physical properties of water (specific heat capacity, phase change temperature) to inherently control energy delivery. By precisely controlling the volume of water injected and its temperature, the system self-regulates energy transfer to tissue without requiring complex electronic control systems or sensors, thereby achieving precision at lower cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves precise energy delivery by controlling key parameters of the thermal transfer medium: water volume (dosage), temperature (heating level), and injection rate. These physical parameter changes provide inherent control over energy delivery precision without requiring sophisticated electronic control systems.
3Device complexity
If disposable probes with pre-set energy doses are used, then cost and complexity are reduced, but control over energy delivery rate may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic control through the injection mechanism, which can deliver the pre-loaded water volume at variable rates. The operator can control the injection speed to regulate energy delivery rate, maintaining ease of operation while preserving control flexibility despite the simplified disposable design.
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
Enables precise, controlled delivery of ablative energy to tissue with reduced complexity and cost, providing effective treatments for conditions such as wrinkles, keloids, and tumors with longer-lasting results compared to traditional methods like Botox.
Implementation Method 1
The probe body includes a heating mechanism and an energy source, such as a battery, configured to energize the heating mechanism to provide subcritical water in the interior chamber
Implementation Method 2
an interior chamber in the probe body contains subcritical water as a thermal flow media for treating tissue
Implementation Method 3
the thermal flow media to flow through the needle portion to interface with the targeted tissue
Implementation Method 4
The probe body includes a release mechanism allowing the thermal flow media to flow through the needle portion to interface with the targeted tissue
Data Source
AI summary
Tissue ablation devices and methods including needle injectors that deliver flowable thermal treatment media into an interface with tissue and that can provide a single dose of ablative energy.