Flexible Microwave Ablation Antenna for Uniform Tissue Lesions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical devices for conditions like atrial fibrillation, menorrhagia, and cancer treatment face challenges such as device shaft heating, non-uniform lesion profiles, and the need for complex cooling mechanisms, expensive equipment, and invasive procedures, which limit their effectiveness and safety.

Innovation Solution

Development of flexible, low-profile microwave ablation devices with shaped antennas that can create uniquely designed microwave fields for precise tissue ablation, allowing for non-invasive or minimally invasive procedures with reduced anesthesia requirements and improved lesion uniformity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If simple monopole antennas are used for microwave ablation, then the device structure is simple, but the SAR and thermal profile are non-uniform and difficult to control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna structureVSAvoidSAR and thermal profile uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna is divided into multiple discrete radiating elements (dipoles, quadrupoles, or higher-order modes) that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows each element to contribute to a uniform overall SAR profile while keeping individual elements simple in structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the antenna structure are designed with different properties - for example, varying the spacing, orientation, or size of individual radiating elements along the antenna length to create a non-uniform current distribution that results in a uniform thermal profile.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If multiple ablation devices are used simultaneously to increase lesion size, then the ablation coverage is improved, but the system complexity and procedure invasiveness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveablation coverageVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple radiating elements are combined into a single integrated antenna structure that functions as one unified ablation device. This merging allows the antenna to create large volumetric lesions through constructive interference of microwave fields from multiple elements, avoiding the need for multiple separate devices and reducing procedural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If rigid and thick ablation devices are used, then the device structural strength is improved, but the procedure requires significant anesthesia and cervical dilation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structural strengthVSAvoidprocedure invasiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna structure is designed with flexible materials and a thin-profile configuration that allows it to be inserted through the cervix and into the uterine cavity without requiring significant dilation or anesthesia. The flexible design enables the antenna to conform to the anatomical shape while maintaining sufficient structural integrity for microwave delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If cooling mechanisms and temperature monitoring systems are added, then the safety and clinical results are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclinical resultsVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna structure itself serves as the temperature monitoring system through its designed thermal properties and heat distribution characteristics. The unique geometric configuration and material selection allow the antenna to inherently control and indicate thermal effects without requiring external cooling mechanisms or complex monitoring systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 devices enable efficient, precise, and safer tissue ablation with reduced risk of damaging healthy tissue, minimizing procedure complexity and cost, while allowing for flexible antenna designs to accommodate various anatomical shapes and sizes.

Implementation Method 1

microwave energy is emitted by an antenna and transmitted to the tumor tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric heating: Dielectric Heating

Implementation Method 2

treat solid tumors (e.g. liver tumors) by heating up the tumor tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal ablation: Ablation

Data Source

PatentUS8968287B2Methods and devices for applying energy to bodily tissues

Publication Date: 2015.03.03 MICROCUBE LLC

AI summary

Devices and methods for treating tissue with microwave energy used in applications such as destroying a soft tissue by microwave ablation and/or creating point, line, area or volumetric lesions. Various embodiments of flexible, low-profile devices are also disclosed where such device can be inserted non-invasively or minimally invasively near or into the target tissue such as cardiac tissue. The devices disclosed herein comprise antennas wherein the field profile generated by an antenna is tailored and optimized for a particular clinical application. The antennas use unique properties of microwaves such as interaction of a microwave field with one or more conductive or non-conductive shaping elements to shape or redistribute the microwave field.