Echogenic Cryoablation Probe Features for Ice Ball Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cryogenic probes used for tissue ablation often struggle to accurately position within the treatment region due to reduced visibility in imaging systems, especially when a frozen mass forms, leading to potential damage to healthy tissues and incomplete treatment of target tissues.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating echogenic features on the exterior surface of the cryogenic probe to enhance visibility under imaging, allowing precise placement of the probe relative to the target tissue, ensuring complete ablation while minimizing impact on healthy tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cryogenic probe is inserted into treatment region, then tissue ablation can be performed, but visibility of probe in imaging is reduced due to frozen mass formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies echogenic features (reflective markers) on the probe surface that change the acoustic properties visible in ultrasound imaging. These features create distinct echogenic signals that remain visible even when surrounded by the hypoechoic frozen mass, allowing continuous visualization of probe position during the ablation procedure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If probe placement is inaccurate due to poor visibility, then healthy tissue may be damaged, but improving visibility requires additional imaging features
Solution Approach 1:
The echogenic features provide high-contrast visual markers that improve probe visibility without requiring complex external imaging systems. The features themselves (simple reflective elements) provide the enhanced imaging capability, avoiding the need for additional complex imaging hardware or multiple imaging modalities.
3Manufacturing precision
If probe position is not precisely controlled, then incomplete ablation of target tissue occurs, but enhancing visibility improves positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The echogenic features serve as precise visual reference points that can be accurately detected and measured in ultrasound imaging. By providing distinct, easily detectable markers on the probe, the system enables precise determination of probe position and orientation, ensuring complete coverage of the target tissue while minimizing damage to surrounding structures.
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 echogenic features improve the accuracy of probe positioning, ensuring target tissues are fully encapsulated in the ice ball, reducing collateral damage to surrounding healthy tissue and enhancing the efficacy of cryoablation procedures.
Implementation Method 1
one or more echogenic features on an exterior surface of the body of the cryogenic probe. The one or more echogenic features are positioned to visually define at least a portion of the active region of the body of the cryogenic probe under imaging
Implementation Method 2
Cryogen flowing through the probe freezes the surrounding tissue, creating a generally spherical or oblong mass of frozen tissue (referred to as an 'ice ball')
Implementation Method 3
tissues adjacent to the probe quickly freeze, causing the tissue to die
Data Source
AI summary
A cryogenic probe includes a body having an active region configured to be inserted within a treatment region of a patient. The active region is defined by one or more internal passages configured to receive a flow of cryogenic fluid. The cryogenic probe body comprises one or more echogenic features on an exterior surface of the cryogenic probe body. The echogenic features are positioned to visually identify at least a portion of the active region under imaging. Disclosed devices, systems, and methods relate to cryoablation and imaging of treatment regions and cryogenic probes.