Expandable Dielectric RF Ablation for Uniform Endometrial Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endometrial ablation technologies face issues such as slow treatment times, incomplete treatments, non-uniform ablation depths, and risk of injury to adjacent organs, particularly due to deficiencies in radiofrequency electrode designs.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing an expandable, thin-wall dielectric member that capacitively couples radiofrequency current through an ionized gas to achieve controlled ablation depth and reduce organ injury, featuring an indicator mechanism to ensure proper expansion and activation of RF energy delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional radiofrequency electrodes are used for endometrial ablation, then ablation treatment 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 electrode surface is segmented into multiple independent heating zones with separate RF coils, allowing each zone to be controlled independently. This enables uniform ablation depth across the entire endometrial surface while maintaining rapid treatment speed through parallel processing of multiple zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The balloon electrode is designed to be expandable and conformable, allowing it to dynamically adapt to the uterine cavity shape. This ensures uniform contact and consistent ablation depth across irregular surfaces, while the expandable design increases the treated surface area for faster overall treatment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If high power radiofrequency energy is applied to achieve complete ablation, then treatment completeness improves, but risk of injury to adjacent organs increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment completenessVSAvoidrisk of organ injury

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A dielectric barrier layer is introduced between the electrode and the endometrium, acting as an intermediary that controls energy transfer. This allows high power RF energy to be applied safely, with the dielectric layer preventing direct electrode-tissue contact that could cause uncontrolled heating and organ injury, while still achieving complete ablation through controlled capacitive coupling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces direct electrical contact with capacitive coupling through the dielectric barrier. This substitution allows energy transfer without physical contact, providing precise control over energy delivery and reducing the risk of thermal injury to adjacent organs while maintaining treatment completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Duration of action of moving object

If radiofrequency current is applied directly to tissue, then ablation can be achieved, but treatment time remains slow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveablation timeVSAvoidtreatment efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses pulsed RF energy delivery through multiple heating zones in sequence or parallel, achieving faster overall ablation compared to continuous single-point treatment. The periodic activation of multiple zones increases treatment efficiency while maintaining controlled energy delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple RF heating zones are merged into a single expandable balloon electrode, allowing simultaneous treatment of multiple endometrial regions. This combination approach significantly reduces total treatment time compared to sequential single-point ablation, while maintaining uniform depth control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 rapid, uniform tissue ablation with controlled depth and reduced risk of adjacent organ injury by using an expandable dielectric structure that converts neutral gas to plasma for capacitive coupling, ensuring safe and effective treatment.

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

enclosing an ionized gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonization: Ionisation

Implementation Method 3

applying radiofrequency current to endometrial tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiofrequency heating: Dielectric Heating

Implementation Method 4

enclosing an ionized gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlasma formation: Plasma

Data Source

PatentUS20250318868A1Methods and systems for endometrial ablation utilizing radio frequency

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 AXORA MEDICAL INC

AI summary

Methods, systems and devices for endometrial ablation. In accordance with a method, a working end of an RF ablation device is positioned in a patient uterus to contact endometrial tissue, the working end comprising a dielectric wall capable of non-expanded and expanded shapes. An indicator mechanism is operatively coupled to the wall and configured to indicate non-expanded and expanded shapes of the wall.