Expandable Dielectric Member for Uniform Endometrial Ablation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endometrial ablation methods using radiofrequency current face challenges such as slow treatment times, incomplete ablation, non-uniform depths, and risk of injury to adjacent organs, necessitating a more efficient and controlled approach.

Innovation Solution

The use of an expandable thin-wall dielectric member enclosing an ionized gas to capacitively couple radiofrequency current to endometrial tissue, allowing for uniform ablation and reduced risk of organ injury through capacitive coupling and controlled gas flow monitoring to ensure uterine cavity integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional radiofrequency ablation devices are used, then endometrial ablation can be performed, but treatment time is slow and ablation depth is non-uniform

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment speedVSAvoidablation depth uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dielectric member as an intermediary between the RF electrode and the endometrial tissue. This dielectric member enables capacitive coupling of RF energy, allowing rapid and uniform heating of the tissue without direct contact, thereby resolving the contradiction between treatment speed and ablation uniformity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of gas within the dielectric member by ionizing it to create plasma. This parameter change (from neutral gas to ionized gas) enhances RF energy transmission and enables controlled, uniform capacitive coupling across the entire treatment surface, achieving both rapid treatment and uniform ablation depth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If higher RF energy is applied to speed up treatment, then treatment time decreases, but risk of injury to adjacent organs increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment speedVSAvoidrisk of organ injury

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The dielectric member serves as a protective intermediary that limits RF energy penetration depth. By controlling the dielectric properties and thickness of this member, high RF power can be applied safely without causing injury to adjacent organs, thus enabling rapid treatment while maintaining safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates flow monitoring of the fluid medium to detect uterine cavity integrity. This feedback mechanism ensures that treatment is only performed when the cavity is properly sealed, preventing energy leakage to adjacent organs and enabling safe use of higher RF powers for faster treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If incomplete ablation is avoided by increasing treatment parameters, then ablation completeness improves, but treatment time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveablation completenessVSAvoidtreatment duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The expandable dielectric member provides continuous and uniform capacitive coupling across the entire endometrial surface simultaneously. This continuous action ensures complete ablation coverage without requiring multiple passes or sequential treatment, achieving both completeness and time efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The dielectric member is designed to be expandable, allowing it to dynamically adapt to the uterine cavity shape and ensure uniform contact with the endometrial surface. This dynamic adjustment enables complete and uniform ablation in a single treatment session, avoiding the need for repeated treatments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 enables rapid and controlled endometrial ablation with uniform tissue effects, reducing the risk of injury to adjacent organs and improving treatment efficiency by ensuring the uterine cavity is intact before proceeding with the ablation.

Implementation Method 1

capacitively coupling the current through an expandable, thin-wall dielectric member enclosing an ionized gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

applying radiofrequency current to endometrial tissue by means of capacitively coupling the current

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiofrequency heating: Dielectric Heating

Implementation Method 3

enclosing an ionized gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlasma: Plasma

Implementation Method 4

applying radiofrequency current to endometrial tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 5

monitoring the rate of the flow to characterize the uterine cavity as perforated or non-perforated based on a change in the flow rate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow monitoring:

Data Source

PatentUS8939971B2System and method for endometrial ablation

Publication Date: 2015.01.27 AXORA MEDICAL INC

AI summary

Methods, systems and devices for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity. A method comprises introducing transcervically a probe into a patient's uterine cavity, providing a flow of a fluid (e.g., CO2) through the probe into the uterine cavity and monitoring the rate of the flow to characterize the uterine cavity as perforated or non-perforated based on a change in the flow rate.