Flexible Microwave Antennas for Uniform Tissue Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices for tissue ablation, such as microwave antennas, suffer from issues like device shaft heating, non-uniform lesion profiles, need for cooling mechanisms, high cost, invasiveness, and risk of damaging adjacent healthy tissue, particularly in treatments for conditions like atrial fibrillation, menorrhagia, and cancer.
Innovation Solution
Development of flexible, low-profile microwave antennas with shaping elements and dielectrics that redistribute microwave fields to create uniform lesions, allowing for minimally invasive procedures with reduced risk of healthy tissue damage, and designed for specific clinical applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional microwave antennas are used for tissue ablation, then treatment efficacy is achieved, but device shaft heating and non-uniform lesion profile occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the diameter of the antenna along its length, creating different electromagnetic field characteristics at different positions. The antenna has a first portion with a first diameter and a second portion with a second diameter, allowing localized control of energy deposition to achieve uniform lesion profiles while reducing shaft heating through optimized geometry at each position
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes geometric parameters of the antenna structure, specifically the diameter variation along the antenna length, to optimize the electromagnetic field distribution. This parameter change enables control over the spatial profile of microwave energy delivery, transforming the lesion shape from non-uniform to uniform while managing thermal effects
2Reliability
If existing ablation devices are used, then tissue ablation is achieved, but cooling mechanisms and sophisticated temperature monitoring systems are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for complex cooling mechanisms and sophisticated temperature monitoring systems by designing an antenna structure that inherently controls thermal distribution. The variable diameter geometry provides passive control over energy deposition patterns, reducing reliance on active cooling systems while maintaining treatment efficacy
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna structure provides self-regulating thermal characteristics through its geometric design. The varying diameter creates natural zones of different energy absorption, allowing the device to self-manage heat distribution without external cooling systems or complex monitoring apparatus
3Reliability
If rigid and thick ablation devices are used, then treatment efficacy is achieved, but significant anesthesia and cervical dilation are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible, thin-profile antenna design that can be easily introduced through the cervix without requiring significant cervical dilation or anesthesia. The flexible construction allows the antenna to conform to anatomical structures while maintaining electromagnetic functionality, eliminating the need for rigid, thick devices
4Power
If conventional antennas are used, then energy delivery is achieved, but adjacent healthy tissue may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses local quality by creating spatially varying electromagnetic field strength through the variable diameter antenna structure. This allows concentrated energy delivery to the target tissue while naturally limiting energy spread to adjacent areas, protecting healthy tissue from 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 antennas provide controlled tissue ablation with reduced anesthesia requirements, improved lesion uniformity, and lower invasiveness, enhancing treatment efficacy and safety for conditions like atrial fibrillation, menorrhagia, and cancer.
Implementation Method 1
The antenna generates a microwave field. The microwave field is shaped or otherwise redistributed by one or more shaping element(s) in the antenna.
Implementation Method 2
microwave energy is used for ablating tissue e.g. for treating atrial fibrillation by controlled ablation of left atrial tissue
Data Source
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.