Endoscopic Histotripsy Transducer for Precise Deep Tissue Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing minimally invasive and non-invasive medical procedures lack precision, efficacy, and safety for treating various medical conditions, particularly in regions with limited acoustic access, such as the prostate, heart, and pancreas, due to the limitations of transcutaneous histotripsy techniques.
Innovation Solution
Development of minimally invasive histotripsy systems with small, endoscopic transducers that can be inserted through natural orifices or small incisions, combined with real-time ultrasound imaging and robotic assistance, to deliver high-amplitude, low-duty-cycle ultrasound pulses for targeted tissue destruction without thermal energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If transcutaneous histotripsy is used to treat deep anatomical regions, then non-invasive treatment is achieved, but precision and efficacy deteriorate due to limited acoustic access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an endoscopic transducer as an intermediary device that can be inserted through natural orifices or small incisions to reach deep anatomical regions. This mediator overcomes the limitation of transcutaneous approaches by providing direct acoustic access to target tissues in regions like the prostate, heart, and pancreas, thereby improving both precision and efficacy while maintaining minimally invasive benefits
2Productivity
If thermal ablation techniques are used for tissue destruction, then effective tissue removal is achieved, but collateral damage and heat sink effects worsen treatment safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal ablation mechanisms with mechanical cavitation-based histotripsy. By using high-amplitude, low-duty-cycle ultrasound pulses to generate acoustic cavitation bubbles that mechanically fragment tissue, the system achieves effective tissue removal without the collateral thermal damage, heat sink effects, and unpredictability associated with thermal ablation techniques
3Reliability
If high-amplitude ultrasound pulses are delivered for histotripsy, then tissue fractionation efficacy is improved, but thermal energy generation worsens treatment safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic pulsed ultrasound delivery with low duty cycle (brief high-amplitude pulses separated by longer intervals). This periodic action allows the tissue to cool between pulses, preventing excessive thermal accumulation while maintaining effective mechanical cavitation for tissue fractionation. The pulsed regime enables high peak pressures for reliable tissue disruption without sustained thermal energy generation
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 fast, precise, and effective tissue removal or fractionation in challenging anatomical regions, avoiding collateral damage and overcoming limitations of thermal ablation techniques, with real-time imaging and robotic control for enhanced precision.
Implementation Method 1
extremely short, intense bursts of acoustic energy induce controlled cavitation (microbubble formation) within the focal volume. The vigorous expansion and collapse of these microbubbles mechanically homogenizes cells and tissue structures within the focal volume
Implementation Method 2
cavitation appears bright on ultrasound imaging thereby confirming correct targeting and localization of treatment
Data Source
AI summary
Minimally invasive histotripsy systems and methods are provided. In some embodiments, a minimally invasive histotripsy device is inserted into a patient. The device can be inserted endoscopically through a natural orifice of the patient, or laparoscopically through an incision in the patient's skin. The minimally invasive histotripsy device can be advanced to the target tissue and acoustically coupled to the target tissue before applying histotripsy therapy to the target tissue. In some embodiments, the minimally invasive histotripsy device includes a transducer array with a focal length of approximately 10-40 mm, a diameter of less than 35 mm, and the ability to create a peak negative focal pressure of at least 20 MPa.