Endoscope-Attached Ablation Device With Vacuum Electrode Platform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ablation devices for endoscopes face challenges in maintaining direct endoscopic visualization during tissue ablation procedures due to tissue being drawn into the ablation cap, blocking the view, and delivering energy unevenly across the tissue surface.
Innovation Solution
An ablation device with a movable electrode platform and vacuum ports arranged around the periphery of the electrodes, allowing for controlled suction to draw tissue into contact with the electrodes while maintaining visibility and ensuring uniform energy delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If suction force is applied to draw tissue into contact with the probe, then adequate contact between probe and tissue is ensured, but tissue is drawn into the cap blocking direct endoscopic visualization
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation cap is divided into distinct functional zones: a peripheral suction port region for applying vacuum force and a central open region for direct visualization. This segmentation allows the suction force to be applied at the periphery while maintaining a clear view through the central opening, resolving the contradiction between ensuring tissue contact and maintaining visualization.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible membrane or diaphragm is introduced as an intermediary element between the suction force application area and the visualization area. This membrane transmits the suction force to draw tissue toward the probe while allowing light to pass through to the imaging device, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of tissue contact and visualization.
2Ease of operation
If preset amount of energy is delivered to the probe, then energy delivery is simplified, but energy distribution across tissue surface becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode platform is designed with non-uniform surface properties or varying contact areas in different regions. This local variation ensures that when a preset energy amount is delivered, the energy density is automatically adjusted across different tissue contact zones, achieving uniform overall energy distribution while maintaining simple preset control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the effective surface area parameter of the electrode platform through mechanical compression or contact pressure variations. This parameter change allows the same preset energy delivery to result in uniform energy density across the tissue surface by modulating the actual contact area during the ablation process.
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 device enables effective tissue ablation under direct endoscopic visualization with controlled suction force, ensuring uniform energy distribution and minimizing procedural steps.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum associated with the endoscope may supply a suction force within the ablation cap in order to draw the tissue to be ablated into contact with the probe
Implementation Method 2
ablation of the mucosal surface by heating the surface until the surface layer is no longer viable
Implementation Method 3
delivering energy to the tissue to ablate the tissue in contact with the probe
Data Source
AI summary
An ablation device including a body having a lumen for receiving a distal end of an endoscope, a cover portion extending from a side of the body, the cover portion defining a recess between the cover portion and the body, and an electrode platform having at least one electrode positioned thereon, the electrode platform movable between a covered position, where the at least one electrode is covered by the cover portion, and an exposed position, where the at least one electrode is at least partially exposed beyond the cover portion. At least one vacuum port is formed in the electrode platform.