Electrosurgical Instrument with Bipolar Tip for RF and Microwave Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrosurgical devices face challenges in simultaneously achieving precise cutting and effective coagulation with minimal blood loss during surgical procedures, as they often require multiple devices or methods that are not entirely efficient in delivering focused energy to biological tissue.
Innovation Solution
An electrosurgical instrument featuring a distal bipolar energy delivery tip with a coaxial transmission line for RF and microwave energy, comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a dielectric body, configured to deliver focused RF energy for cutting and microwave energy for rapid coagulation, allowing for simultaneous or separate application of energies to achieve optimal tissue handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a blade is used for tissue cutting, then cutting precision is improved, but blood loss increases due to damage to small blood vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical blade cutting system with an electromagnetic energy-based cutting system. The electrosurgical instrument uses RF energy delivered through a coaxial transmission line to cut tissue without physical contact, thereby avoiding damage to small blood vessels that occurs with mechanical blades while maintaining cutting precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of tissue cutting from mechanical force to electromagnetic energy. By using RF energy at specific frequencies delivered through the coaxial transmission line, the system achieves tissue cutting through thermal effects and impedance heating, eliminating the blood loss associated with mechanical cutting while preserving cutting accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are used for cutting and coagulation, then functional versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges cutting and coagulation functions into a single electrosurgical instrument. The coaxial transmission line structure integrates both RF energy delivery for cutting and microwave energy delivery for coagulation within one device, eliminating the need for multiple separate devices while reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrosurgical instrument is designed with multi-functionality, capable of performing both cutting and coagulation operations. The coaxial transmission line can deliver different types of electromagnetic energy (RF and microwave) through the same structure, allowing one device to replace multiple specialized tools and simplify the surgical workflow.
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 provides precise cutting and rapid coagulation with minimal blood loss by focusing RF energy and delivering microwave energy, facilitating intuitive operation and uniform energy distribution, suitable for use in flexible endoscopy and other surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a coaxial transmission line for conveying radiofrequency (RF) energy and microwave energy
Implementation Method 2
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 3
the first electrode and second electrode are configured as (i) a bipolar structure for delivering the RF energy conveyed by the coaxial transmission line, and (ii) an antenna for radiating the microwave energy conveyed by the coaxial transmission line
Implementation Method 4
the application of heat energy to biological tissue is also an effective method of killing cells. For example, the application of microwaves can heat and thus ablate (destroy) biological tissue
Implementation Method 5
a dielectric body disposed between the first electrode and second electrode
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides an electrosurgical instrument for delivering radiofrequency and microwave energy to biological tissue in order to cut and coagulate the tissue. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a coaxial transmission line for conveying radiofrequency (RF) energy and microwave energy, and an energy delivery tip coupled to a distal end of the coaxial transmission line. The energy delivery tip comprises: a first electrode electrically coupled to an inner conductor of the coaxial transmission line and protruding beyond a distal end of an outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line; a second electrode electrically coupled to the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line and extending coaxially along a portion of the first electrode; and a dielectric body disposed between the first electrode and second electrode. The first electrode comprises a projecting nib that protrudes beyond a distal end of the dielectric body. The second electrode and the dielectric body comprise portions that are exposed at the distal end of the energy delivery tip. The first electrode and second electrode are configured as (i) a bipolar structure for delivering the RF energy conveyed by the coaxial transmission line, and (ii) an antenna for radiating the microwave energy conveyed by the coaxial transmission line.