Electrosurgical Instrument RF Microwave Tip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrosurgical instruments require multiple tools for cutting and ablating tissue, increasing the risk of seeding cancerous cells and prolonging surgical procedures, as they are not designed to efficiently deliver both radiofrequency and microwave energy for simultaneous or sequential use.
Innovation Solution
A coaxial electrosurgical instrument with a radiating tip portion that combines RF and microwave energy delivery, featuring a coaxial feed cable with an inner and outer conductor separated by dielectric materials, and a field-shaping conductive structure to emit microwave energy efficiently while maintaining RF cutting functionality, allowing for flexible and precise tissue treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate tools are used for cutting and ablation, then each tool can be optimized for its specific function, but the surgical procedure time increases and the risk of seeding cancerous cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines RF cutting capability and microwave ablation capability into a single electrosurgical instrument. The instrument includes a radiating tip portion with electrodes that can deliver both RF energy for cutting and microwave energy for ablation, eliminating the need to switch between separate tools and reducing the risk of cancerous cell seeding during tool changes
Solution Approach 2:
The electrosurgical instrument is designed with multi-functionality to perform both cutting and ablation operations. The radiating tip portion can be configured to deliver different types of energy (RF and microwave) depending on the surgical requirement, making a single instrument capable of replacing multiple specialized tools
2Productivity
If a single instrument delivers both RF and microwave energy, then surgical procedure time is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument employs a nested structure where the radiating tip portion is inserted into the target tissue before delivering microwave energy. The tip body with electrodes is nested within the coaxial feed cable structure, allowing compact integration of multiple energy delivery functions within a single instrument architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument is divided into distinct functional segments: a coaxial feed cable for energy transmission and a separable radiating tip portion for tissue interaction. This segmentation allows the complex instrument to be designed with modular components that can be independently optimized for RF cutting and microwave ablation functions
3Reliability
If microwave energy is delivered broadly in an omnidirectional manner, then ablation effectiveness is improved, but energy delivery precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The radiating tip portion features asymmetric electrode configuration where the first electrode is electrically connected to the inner conductor and the second electrode is connected to the outer conductor. This asymmetric arrangement creates directional electromagnetic field patterns that enable both broad omnidirectional ablation coverage and controlled energy distribution for precise treatment
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
Enables efficient and precise cutting and ablation of tissue with reduced risk of cancerous cell seeding and shorter surgical times by using a single instrument for both RF cutting and microwave ablation, improving energy delivery efficiency and minimizing exposure to healthy tissue.
Implementation Method 1
Water molecules have a permanent electric dipole moment, meaning that a charge imbalance exists across the molecule. This charge imbalance causes the molecules to move in response to the forces generated by application of a time varying electric field as the molecules rotate to align their electric dipole moment with the polarity of the applied field. At microwave frequencies, rapid molecular oscillations result in frictional heating and consequential dissipation of the field energy in the form of heat.
Implementation Method 2
The method of cutting using RF energy operates based on the principle that 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. When a pure sine wave is applied to the tissue matrix, enough heat is generated within the cells to vaporise the water content of the tissue.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode structure for a distal tip of an electrosurgical instrument that enables efficient delivery of radiofrequency (RF) energy in a forward (distal) direction and uniform delivery of microwave energy for ablation in a region surrounding the distal tip. The instrument comprises a tip body having a first electrode and a second electrode, where the second electrode is spaced from the first electrode exposed dielectric material. The first electrode is connected through the tip body to an inner conductor of a coaxial feed. The second electrode is electrically connected to the outer conductor of the coaxial feed by a field-shaping conductive structure formed in or on the tip body. The field-shaping conductive structure is configured to shape a radiation profile of microwave energy emitted from the tip body.