Echogenic Thread Sheath for Medical Probe Visualization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Medical probes used for RF ablation lack sufficient echogenicity, making it difficult to visualize and accurately position them during procedures, and there is a need for increasing echogenicity after manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a thread arrangement with echogenic properties over the probe shaft, which can be embedded within or disposed under an electrically insulative sheath, to enhance the echogenicity of the probe, allowing for improved visualization during ultrasound imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electrically insulative sheath is applied to the probe shaft to prevent RF energy leakage, then electrical safety is improved, but echogenicity is reduced making the probe difficult to visualize
Solution Approach 1:
The probe incorporates a composite structure with an electrically insulative sheath made of material containing echogenic particles or having echogenic properties. This composite material simultaneously provides electrical insulation to prevent RF energy leakage and echogenicity to enable ultrasound visualization, resolving the contradiction between electrical safety and detectability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the probe shaft is made electrically conductive to deliver RF energy, then RF energy delivery is improved, but unwanted transverse energy conduction occurs causing healthy tissue ablation
Solution Approach 1:
The probe shaft is designed with non-uniform electrical conductivity through segmented insulation or coated sections. The insulative coating is applied selectively to specific regions of the conductive shaft, allowing RF energy to be delivered axially to the target tissue while preventing transverse conduction to surrounding healthy tissue, thus resolving the contradiction between energy delivery and harmful side effects.
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 increased echogenicity enables more precise localization and contact of the probe with target tissue, facilitating accurate RF ablation procedures and providing a solution for probes that may initially lack sufficient echogenicity.
Implementation Method 1
The echogenicity of the probe determines how efficiently and accurately the probe may be located using ultrasound techniques
Implementation Method 2
the outer cannula is coated with an electrically insulative material to prevent RF energy from being transversely conveyed from the inner electrode deployment member along the length of the probe
Implementation Method 3
The energy that is conveyed from the electrode(s) translates into ion agitation, which is converted into heat and induces cellular death via coagulation necrosis
Data Source
AI summary
Tissue ablation probes and methods of using tissue ablation probes are provided. Each tissue ablation probe comprises an electrically conductive probe shaft, at least one tissue ablation electrode carried by a distal end of the probe shaft, and one or both of an insulative element and an echogenic element. The insulative element and/or the echogenic element may, e.g., be affixed to, or selectively removable from, the probe shaft to increase the insulative capability and echogenicity of the probe. An echogenic sheath having the insulative element and/or the echogenic element may be slidably disposed over the probe shaft to impart insulative and echogenic properties to the probe shaft.