Expandable End-Effector for Low-Pressure Hydrothermal Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrothermal tissue ablation procedures face challenges in avoiding tissue damage due to high-pressure fluid leakage into undesired areas, such as fallopian tubes, while low-pressure fluid may not effectively expand the uterine cavity for efficient ablation.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with an expandable end-effector and a mechanism for low-pressure fluid delivery, which expands the body cavity to prevent fluid leakage and ensure effective tissue ablation, using a sheath with working channels and a handle for fluid transport and tool insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-pressure fluid is used for hydrothermal ablation, then the fluid can reach every section of the uterine cavity effectively, but the fluid may leak into the fallopian tubes and cause inadvertent tissue burns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from high to low, using low-pressure heated fluid for ablation. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining effective ablation through the heated fluid's thermal energy while eliminating the harmful high-pressure leakage into fallopian tubes that causes tissue burns
2Object-affected harmful factors
If low-pressure fluid is used to prevent tissue damage, then the risk of fluid leakage into fallopian tubes is reduced, but the uterus may remain collapsed and prevent efficient ablation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fluid delivery system into separate functional components: low-pressure heated fluid delivery for safe ablation and a separate uterine distension system (balloon or insufflation) for cavity expansion. This allows low-pressure fluid to prevent tissue damage while the separate distension mechanism maintains uterine cavity openness for efficient ablation coverage
3Area of stationary object
If the uterine cavity is expanded to improve ablation coverage, then the fluid can reach more tissue areas, but the pressure may force fluid into the fallopian tubes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter to low-pressure heated fluid delivery, which allows the uterine cavity to be expanded for comprehensive ablation coverage while the low pressure prevents fluid from being forced into the fallopian tubes, thus avoiding tissue damage
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 allows for efficient tissue ablation within the uterine cavity using low-pressure fluid, reducing the risk of tissue damage and ensuring thorough treatment by maintaining the uterine cavity expansion during the procedure.
Implementation Method 1
an expandable member having arms extending between its proximal end and the distal end. The arms are configured to transition between a collapsed state and an expanded state
Implementation Method 2
a mechanism for transporting fluid through one of the channels to the body cavity to ablate the tissue
Implementation Method 3
Hydrothermal procedures use free flowing boiling water or saline to destroy the endometrial lining
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device for ablating tissue within a body cavity includes a sheath having a lumen extending therethrough from a proximal end to a distal end and a first channel extending within the lumen, an end-effector extending from a proximal end to a distal end and including an expandable member having a plurality of arms extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The arms are configured to transition between a collapsed state and an expanded state and a mechanism for transporting a fluid through one of the channels to the body cavity to ablate the tissue.