Endoscopic Ultrasound Electroporation Cyst Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating cystic lesions, such as mucinous pancreas cystic lesions, are inadequate as they often require direct contact with the cyst wall and lack uniformity in delivering ablative agents, leading to inefficiencies and risks to surrounding tissues.
Innovation Solution
The use of endoscopic ultrasound-guided electroporation techniques involving a needle with electrodes and a conductive fluid to create a non-thermal electrical field within the cyst, allowing for controlled ablation without direct contact, and potentially incorporating a balloon or electroporation basket for enhanced treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct contact with cyst wall is used for ablation, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but risk to surrounding tissues increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a conductive fluid as an intermediary medium between the electrode and the cyst wall. This fluid allows electrical current to be delivered to the cyst wall without direct contact between the electrode and tissue, thereby maintaining treatment effectiveness while reducing the risk of damage to surrounding tissues. The conductive fluid acts as a mediator that transmits electrical energy uniformly across the cyst wall surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical contact with electrical field-based interaction. Instead of requiring physical contact between the electrode and cyst wall, the system uses an electrical field conducted through the conductive fluid to achieve ablation. This substitution of mechanical contact with electrical field interaction enables precise control of energy delivery while minimizing mechanical trauma to surrounding structures.
2Manufacturing precision
If uniform delivery of ablative agents is achieved, then treatment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes changes in electrical parameters (voltage, current distribution, conductivity) to achieve uniform delivery of ablative energy. By adjusting these electrical parameters and utilizing the conductive properties of the fluid, the system achieves homogeneous energy distribution across the cyst wall without requiring complex mechanical positioning systems or multiple electrodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive fluid serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a medium for electrical current delivery, provides uniform distribution of energy across the cyst wall, and enables control of treatment parameters. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby achieving treatment precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 method provides a safe and effective means of ablating cystic lesions with minimal risk to surrounding tissues, allowing for precise control of the treated area and efficient delivery of ablative agents.
Implementation Method 1
generating an electrical field via an electrode on the distal end portion of the needle, where the electrical field is conducted by the second fluid to cause non-thermal electroporation of cells of the cyst
Implementation Method 2
the electrical field is conducted by the second fluid to cause non-thermal electroporation
Data Source
AI summary
Cystic lesions can be treated by electroporation. For example, this document describes methods and devices for endoscopic ultrasound-guided ablation of cystic lesions using a needle for electroporation.