Electrosurgical Applicator Array Phase Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrosurgical systems for tissue ablation struggle to accurately predetermine and adjust the output power and phase of multiple microwave applicators, making it difficult to focus heat reliably on specific tissue areas during procedures like hyperthermia therapy, where it is crucial to heat malignant tissue above 41°C while keeping healthy tissue below the temperature causing cell death.
Innovation Solution
An electrosurgical system with a generator assembly capable of supplying power of selected phase, amplitude, and frequency, and an applicator array assembly that includes a power divider unit to divide power among multiple energy applicators, allowing for precise control and focusing of electromagnetic energy using a shell assembly, energy applicators, and a cooling chamber for efficient energy delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple microwave applicators are used to treat larger tissue areas, then treatment coverage is improved, but control over power distribution and phase becomes difficult, reducing heating precision
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the treatment into multiple independent applicator channels, each capable of receiving individually controlled microwave power with specific phase and amplitude settings. The generator assembly provides separate power delivery to each applicator, enabling precise control of power distribution across multiple treatment zones while maintaining overall treatment coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the phase and amplitude of microwave power delivered to each applicator channel based on real-time treatment requirements. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize heating patterns across different tissue areas, maintaining precision even as treatment conditions change during the procedure.
2Measurement precision
If electromagnetic energy is focused on specific tissue areas, then heating precision is improved, but energy distribution control becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the electromagnetic energy delivery to each applicator channel and adjust power distribution accordingly. This feedback control enables precise focusing of energy on target tissue areas while automatically compensating for variations in tissue properties, reducing the complexity of manual power distribution control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system controls multiple parameters including phase, amplitude, and frequency of microwave power delivered to each applicator. By independently adjusting these parameters for each channel, the system can precisely focus energy on specific tissue areas while managing the complexity through automated parameter optimization algorithms.
3Productivity
If high power is delivered to achieve effective ablation, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but risk of damaging surrounding healthy tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system delivers high power microwave energy locally to specific target tissue areas through individually controlled applicator channels, while surrounding areas receive reduced or no power. This localized high-power delivery achieves effective ablation of malignant tissue while minimizing thermal damage to adjacent healthy tissue through spatially selective energy distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical adjustment of applicator positions with electronic control of power distribution across multiple fixed applicator channels. This substitution enables precise control of energy delivery patterns through software-based power and phase management, reducing the risk of overheating healthy tissue while maintaining ablation effectiveness.
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
This solution enables precise localization of absorbed energy in targeted tissue, focusing heat reliably and minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue, thereby improving the accuracy and effectiveness of tissue ablation procedures.
Implementation Method 1
Electromagnetic radiation can be used to heat and destroy tumor cells
Implementation Method 2
These methods involve applying electromagnetic radiation to heat, ablate and/or coagulate tissue
Implementation Method 3
a cooling chamber for efficient energy delivery
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
An electrosurgical system for directing energy to tissue includes a generator assembly operable to supply power having a selected phase, amplitude and frequency, and an applicator array assembly. The applicator array assembly includes a shell assembly, a plurality of energy applicators disposed within the shell assembly, and a power divider unit electrically coupled to the generator assembly. The power divider unit is operable to divide power into the applicator array assembly.