Ferromagnetic Coated Conductor for Uniform Thermal Tissue Resection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical instruments for tissue resection and hemostasis, such as electrosurgery and resistive heating methods, suffer from issues like deep tissue damage, charring, and bleeding, with existing thermal tools facing challenges in precision and safety, particularly when used in minimally invasive procedures.

Innovation Solution

A thermally adjustable surgical instrument featuring a ferromagnetic coated conductor with an oscillating electrical energy source for uniform heating, allowing for precise tissue resection and hemostasis with reduced bleeding, and a design that includes a support for rigidity and a handpiece with a cutting element angled for better access and visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If monopolar electrosurgery is used to cut tissue, then incision is achieved, but hemostatic effect is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveincision capabilityVSAvoidhemostatic effect

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines cutting and hemostatic functions into a single bipolar electrode structure. The bipolar electrode delivers both cutting current and coagulation current through the same tissue contact point, merging two separate surgical functions into one integrated tool, thereby achieving both incision and hemostasis simultaneously without requiring separate instruments or sequential procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If high voltage is used for hemostasis, then coagulation effectiveness is improved, but deeper tissue damage and charring occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehemostatic effectivenessVSAvoidtissue damage and charring

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bipolar electrode concentrates electrical energy delivery at the precise tissue contact point between its two poles. By localizing the high voltage effect to only the immediate treatment area rather than allowing current to traverse through the patient's body as in monopolar systems, the invention achieves effective coagulation while minimizing deeper tissue damage and charring to the surrounding healthy tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If bipolar electrodes are used to contain current, then deeper tissue effects are reduced, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeeper tissue effectsVSAvoidelectrode fabrication complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bipolar electrode structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a cutting instrument and a coagulation device, requires no separate return electrode placement, and provides localized current containment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components and procedural steps, thereby offsetting the increased fabrication complexity with operational simplicity and versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If resistive heating elements are used for tissue destruction, then charring is reduced, but heating and cooling time latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecharringVSAvoidheating and cooling latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The bipolar electrosurgery system uses periodic alternating current delivery with controlled duty cycles to achieve tissue destruction. By delivering energy in controlled pulses rather than continuous resistive heating, the system achieves effective tissue destruction while allowing intermittent cooling periods, thereby reducing both charring and thermal latency while maintaining precise temporal control over the heating process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 instrument enables efficient tissue resection with minimal bleeding, precise control over thermal effects, and reduced collateral damage, improving surgical precision and safety by maintaining heat localization and rapid heating/cooling capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

passage of electrical energy through the conductor causes uniform ferromagnetic heating at the location of the ferromagnetic material with a small heat latency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFerromagnetic heating: Ferromagnetism

Implementation Method 2

the heated ferromagnetic material is in contact with a target tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10213247B2Thermal resecting loop

Publication Date: 2019.02.26 DOMAIN SURGICAL INC

AI summary

A thermal surgical instrument comprising a conductor having a ferromagnetic material in electrical communication with the conductor, such that passage of electrical energy through the conductor causes substantially uniform heating of the ferromagnetic material sufficient to produce a desired therapeutic tissue effect is provided. The conductor may be shaped to facilitate resection of tissue from a patient and include a support to provide increase rigidity to the loop so that the conductor better resists bending during use. The ferromagnetic material quickly heats and cools in response to a controllable power delivery source. The thermal surgical instrument can be used for substantially simultaneously resecting tissue with hemostasis.