Dual RF and Microwave Electrosurgical Instrument with Fluid Feed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrosurgical instruments face challenges in efficiently cutting and coagulating tissue with minimal blood loss during surgical procedures, particularly in highly vascularized tissues like the liver or spleen, as they often require separate devices for cutting and coagulation, and may cause bowel perforation during polyp removal.
Innovation Solution
An electrosurgical instrument capable of delivering both radiofrequency (RF) and microwave frequency electromagnetic energy, integrated with a fluid feed system to assist in tissue treatment and prevent bowel perforation, using a coaxial feed cable and fluid feed conduit to deliver energy and fluid simultaneously or separately, and a plasma generation region to enhance cutting and coagulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate devices are used for cutting and coagulation, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but the device complexity and procedural time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines cutting and coagulation functions into a single electrosurgical instrument with a unified probe. The probe integrates RF electrodes for cutting and microwave antennas for coagulation, allowing both functions to be performed through one device rather than requiring separate instruments. This merging resolves the contradiction by maintaining functional effectiveness while reducing the number of devices needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrosurgical instrument is designed as a multi-functional device that can perform cutting, coagulation, and sealing operations. The probe contains both RF generation means for cutting and microwave generation means for coagulation, enabling a single device to handle multiple surgical tasks that previously required separate specialized instruments.
2Productivity
If RF energy is used for cutting tissue, then cutting efficiency is improved, but blood loss increases due to lack of simultaneous coagulation
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument merges RF cutting capability with microwave coagulation capability in a single integrated system. When the probe contacts tissue, RF energy performs the cutting action while microwave energy simultaneously coagulates blood vessels in the cutting path, eliminating blood loss without compromising cutting efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous simultaneous action of cutting and coagulation through dual energy delivery. The RF and microwave energies are delivered concurrently during the cutting process, ensuring that coagulation occurs continuously along the cutting path rather than as a separate subsequent step, thereby preventing blood loss while maintaining cutting productivity.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If microwave energy is used for coagulation, then blood loss is reduced, but the depth of penetration is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument applies different energy types to different depths and functions: microwave energy is used for superficial coagulation of small blood vessels at the tissue surface, while RF energy provides deeper cutting capability. This local differentiation of energy application resolves the contradiction by using microwave's strength for surface coagulation without requiring it to provide deep penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a composite approach combining two different energy modalities (RF and microwave) rather than relying on a single energy type. This composite energy delivery system leverages the complementary strengths of each energy type: microwave for superficial coagulation and RF for deeper cutting, achieving both limited blood loss and adequate penetration depth.
4Reliability
If fluid injection is used to prevent bowel perforation, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid injection system is merged with the electrosurgical probe into a single integrated device. The probe simultaneously delivers RF/microwave energy for cutting and coagulation, and injects fluid through integrated channels to create a protective barrier, combining multiple safety and treatment functions in one device rather than requiring separate injection instruments.
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 instrument effectively cuts and coagulates tissue with reduced blood loss and risk of bowel perforation, allowing for efficient removal of polyps and other tissues while minimizing the need for multiple devices and reducing procedural time and infection risk.
Implementation Method 1
the first and second conductive elements are arranged to act: as active and return electrodes to convey RF EM radiation corresponding to the RF signal by conduction
Implementation Method 2
as an antenna to radiate microwave EM radiation corresponding to the received microwave signal
Implementation Method 3
as an electric current passes through a tissue matrix (aided by the ionic contents of the cells), the impedance to the flow of electrons across the tissue generates heat
Implementation Method 4
The microwave energy can coagulate blood to effectively seal off the blood flow at the cutting region
Data Source
AI summary
An electrosurgical instrument for delivering radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) energy and microwave frequency EM energy from a coaxial feed cable through an instrument tip into tissue. The instrument tip comprises a dielectric body separating first and second conductive elements, which act as active and return electrodes to convey the RF EM radiation by conduction, and as an antenna to radiate the microwave EM radiation. The instrument also has a fluid feed incorporated into its tip, e.g. in an additional dielectric element mounted on the underside of the tip, for delivering fluid. The delivered fluid may be a gas plasma to assist treatment or a liquid to plump up a tissue region before treatment. The instrument may fit in an endoscope.