Flexible Thin-Film Temperature Sensor for Medical Energy Irradiation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional medical energy irradiating apparatuses face challenges in accurately measuring the temperature of deep living tissues during treatments like prostatic hypertrophy, as direct temperature sensing can cause injury and existing surface measurement methods are inaccurate due to coolant interference and structural limitations.

Innovation Solution

A medical energy irradiating apparatus with a flexible thin-film temperature sensor mounted on the outer surface of the insert portion, featuring a thin-film substrate with conductors and electrodes, and a thermally shrunk covering tube to secure the sensor, allowing for accurate surface and deep tissue temperature estimation without direct contact or coolant interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a temperature sensor is directly inserted into deep living tissue to measure temperature, then measurement precision is improved, but harmful factors increase due to tissue injury and infection risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature measurement accuracyVSAvoidtissue injury and infection

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the insert portion as an intermediary medium to transfer heat from the deep target tissue to the temperature sensor. The sensor measures temperature on the surface of the insert portion, which thermally couples to the deep tissue through thermal conduction, eliminating the need for direct sensor insertion into the tissue while still achieving accurate deep tissue temperature measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical direct-contact measurement system with a thermal field-based indirect measurement system. Instead of physically inserting the sensor into the tissue, the system uses thermal conduction through the insert portion to transfer temperature information from the deep target region to the sensor location on the insert surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a temperature sensor is placed on the surface near the treated region to avoid injury, then harmful factors are reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to coolant interference and thermal gradient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue injury preventionVSAvoiddeep tissue temperature measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The insert portion serves as a thermal intermediary that bridges the gap between the surface sensor and deep target tissue. By placing the sensor on the insert surface rather than directly on the tissue, the system avoids harmful contact while the insert portion's thermal conduction properties enable accurate deep tissue temperature measurement through the intermediate medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the insert portion is made thin for easier insertion, then ease of operation is improved, but strength deteriorates making it difficult to maintain structural integrity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion easeVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The insert portion is constructed from a composite material comprising a polymer matrix reinforced with heat-conductive particles or fibers. This composite structure provides both the thin profile needed for easy insertion and the enhanced mechanical strength and thermal conductivity required to maintain structural integrity and achieve accurate temperature measurement through thermal conduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Enables safe and accurate temperature monitoring of living tissues during treatments, reducing the risk of injury and improving treatment efficacy by providing precise temperature control and estimation.

Implementation Method 1

a temperature sensor disposed on an insert portion (103) to be inserted into a living body... accurately measuring the temperature of the living body, which it is being irradiated with an energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a thermally shrunk covering tube to secure the sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal contraction: Thermal Contraction

Data Source

PatentUS7510553B2Medical energy irradiating apparatus

Publication Date: 2009.03.31 TERUMO KK

AI summary

A temperature measuring unit of a temperature sensor has electrodes disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of a temperature measuring element, thin-film substrates disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the electrodes, and laser beam shield plates disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the thin-film substrates. One of the electrodes is bonded to the temperature measuring element by a conductive adhesive, and the other electrode is not bonded to the temperature measuring element by a conductive adhesive. When the temperature sensor is bonded to a hollow cylinder of an insert, the temperature measuring unit is curved along the surface of the hollow cylinder, tending to develop tensile stresses in the other electrode. At this time, the other electrode is positionally displaced depending on the developed tensile stresses, allowing the temperature sensor to be adjusted in length. Consequently, the temperature sensor is prevented from being broken or damaged.