Flexible Cylindrical Antenna Structure for Controlled Tissue Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tissue ablation devices face challenges in navigating tortuous anatomical regions due to the rigidity of traditional antennas, which limits their ability to bend and recover, and struggle to control ablation zone size and depth effectively.
Innovation Solution
A flexible antenna system with a patterned cylindrical structure, composed of a highly elastic material plated with a conductive material, allows for navigation through tight bends while maintaining the ability to recover and control ablation parameters such as ablation zone size by adjusting the antenna's length, pitch, and pattern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional rigid antennas are used for tissue ablation, then ablation zone control is improved, but navigation through tortuous anatomy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by constructing the antenna with a flexible core structure that can bend and navigate tortuous anatomical pathways while maintaining its functional integrity. The flexible core allows the antenna to conform to curved paths during navigation, directly resolving the contradiction between rigidity needed for ablation control and flexibility needed for navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining a flexible core with a conductive outer layer. This composite structure integrates the flexibility of the core material with the electrical conductivity of the outer layer, enabling both navigation through tortuous anatomy and effective tissue ablation, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and manufacturing precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If flexible materials are used for antenna construction, then navigation through tortuous anatomy is improved, but antenna shape retention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the antenna into a flexible core structure and a separate conductive outer layer. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function - the core provides flexibility for navigation while the outer layer maintains structural integrity and shape retention during ablation, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and shape stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible shell structure that can bend and deform during navigation but is designed to recover its original shape. This flexible shell approach allows the antenna to navigate tortuous anatomy while maintaining sufficient shape retention to function effectively for tissue ablation, balancing adaptability with compositional stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid structures are used for antenna, then antenna shape retention is improved, but flexibility to navigate tortuous anatomy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by using composite materials that combine a flexible inner core with a structurally supportive outer layer. The flexible core enables navigation through tortuous anatomy by allowing bending and deformation, while the outer conductive layer provides sufficient structural integrity for shape retention during ablation, achieving both adaptability and compositional stability.
4Volume of moving object
If small form factor antennas are used, then minimally invasive capability is improved, but flexibility and navigation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by designing a compact antenna with a flexible shell structure that maintains a small form factor for minimally invasive insertion while incorporating inherent flexibility to navigate tortuous anatomical pathways. The flexible design allows the small antenna to bend and conform to curved paths without requiring larger dimensions, resolving the contradiction between size and navigation capability.
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 flexible antenna system enables precise tissue ablation by navigating through tortuous anatomy, recovering from bends, and dynamically controlling ablation zone size, improving the effectiveness and precision of minimally invasive procedures.
Implementation Method 1
the second material being more conductive than the first material and being electrically coupled to the conducting cable to generate a radiation pattern to ablate tissue
Implementation Method 2
a first material having a flexible plastic deformation limit such that a strain as the patterned cylindrical structure bends through a curve remains below the flexible plastic deformation limit
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible instrument comprises an antenna having a distal tip portion shaped to perforate tissue, a proximal base, and an antenna body therebetween. The antenna body comprises a patterned cylindrical structure having antenna body elements spatially separated from each other and having a proximal end coupled to the proximal base and a distal end coupled to the distal tip portion. The distal tip portion is disposed distally of the distal end. The antenna comprises a first material having a flexible plastic deformation limit and a second material plated onto the first material. The second material is more conductive than the first material. The flexible instrument further comprises an adjustment device configured to adjust pitch lengths between adjacent antenna body elements and is configured to generate a radiation pattern from the antenna that varies based on the pitch length between the adjacent antenna body elements to ablate tissue.