Expandable RF Ablation Catheter for Nasal Nerve Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional treatments for intractable rhinitis, such as vidian neurectomy, can cause collateral damage to the lacrimal gland, leading to long-term health complications like chronic dry eye, and there is a need for a more precise and safer method to ablate nasal nerves without such side effects.
Innovation Solution
Development of an RF ablation instrument with an expandable ablation member that can be selectively actuated between non-expanded and expanded states, allowing for precise delivery of RF energy to nasal nerves like the posterior nasal nerve, using an image-guided surgery navigation system to ensure accurate targeting and minimize tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vidian neurectomy is performed to treat intractable rhinitis, then nasal mucus secretions are reduced, but collateral damage to the lacrimal gland occurs causing chronic dry eye
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation catheter delivers RF energy to specific localized regions of the sphenoid sinus where posterior nasal nerves are located, allowing selective ablation of target nerves while preserving adjacent structures like the lacrimal gland. The expandable balloon electrode confines the ablation zone to a precise local area.
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable balloon electrode acts as an intermediary that concentrates and directs RF energy precisely to the posterior nasal nerves within the sphenoid sinus, mediating between the RF generator and the target nerves while minimizing energy dispersion to surrounding tissues.
2Ease of operation
If surgical removal of vidian nerve is performed, then rhinitis symptoms are alleviated, but risk of long-term health complications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces mechanical surgical removal of nerves with non-mechanical RF energy ablation. The expandable balloon electrode delivers controlled RF energy to ablate posterior nasal nerves in situ, eliminating the need for mechanical dissection and removal while improving safety through precise energy delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The ablation catheter allows precise control of RF energy parameters (power, duration, temperature) to achieve effective nerve ablation while staying below thresholds that would damage adjacent structures. The expandable balloon enables consistent energy distribution across the target area.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If expandable ablation member is used for precise nerve ablation, then collateral damage is minimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable balloon electrode is nested within the catheter shaft in a collapsed state during insertion, then expanded at the target site. This nesting allows the complex expandable structure to be delivered through a simple catheter, minimizing invasive profile while maintaining functional complexity at the treatment site.
Solution Approach 2:
The balloon electrode transitions from a static collapsed state during delivery to a dynamic expanded state at the treatment site. This dynamic transformation allows the device to adapt its configuration based on operational phase, simplifying delivery while enabling complex ablation geometry when needed.
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 RF ablation instrument enables safe and effective ablation of nasal nerves, reducing the risk of collateral damage to adjacent structures, thereby providing a more reliable treatment for rhinitis while minimizing complications.
Implementation Method 1
an ablation catheter that is selectively translatable relative to the sheath between a proximal retracted position in which the at least one expandable ablation member is housed within the sheath to thereby prevent the at least one expandable ablation member from radially expanding, and a distal extended position in which the at least one expandable ablation member is exposed from the sheath to thereby permit the at least one expandable ablation member to radially expand
Implementation Method 2
at least one electrode disposed on the shaft, wherein the at least one electrode is operable to deliver RF energy to tissue for ablating the tissue
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument includes a sheath and an ablation catheter disposed within the sheath. The sheath is configured to be inserted into a cavity of a patient's head. The ablation catheter extends along a longitudinal axis and includes at least one expandable ablation member configured to selectively radially expand outwardly from a non-expanded state to an expanded state for selectively ablating tissue within the patient's head. The ablation catheter is selectively translatable relative to the sheath between a proximal retracted position and a distal extended position. In the retracted position, the at least one expandable ablation member is housed within the sheath to thereby prevent the at least one expandable ablation member from radially expanding outwardly. In the extended position, the at least one expandable ablation member is exposed from the sheath to thereby permit the at least one expandable ablation member to radially expand outwardly for contacting tissue.