Hollow Conductor Microwave Probe Distal Tip Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microwave ablation probes cannot accommodate wire-based sensors at the distal tip due to high e-field magnitudes, leading to electrical interference and unintended heating, which limits physiological and ablation monitoring sensing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The development of energy delivery devices with hollow inner conductors allows for the placement of sensors such as temperature, positioning, and imaging sensors outside the distal end of the hollow inner conductor, within a region configured for ablation energy emission, enabling effective distal tip sensing and energy delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wire-based sensors are placed at the distal tip of the antenna, then distal tip sensing capability is improved, but electrical interference and unintended heating occur due to high e-field magnitude
Solution Approach 1:
The probe is divided into functionally separate segments: a distal sensor tip for sensing, a hollow inner conductor for wire passage, and a separate antenna element for energy delivery. This segmentation allows the sensor wire to be isolated from the high e-field region of the antenna while maintaining distal tip access.
Solution Approach 2:
A hollow inner conductor acts as an intermediary structure that provides a protected pathway for the sensor wire to reach the distal tip without direct exposure to the high e-field magnitude of the antenna, thereby reducing electrical interference and unintended heating.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sensors are terminated in a shielded region proximal to the antenna, then electrical interference is reduced, but physiological and ablation monitoring sensing capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor wire is routed through the hollow inner conductor, utilizing the radial dimension of the probe structure to transport the sensor signal from the distal tip through the hollow space back to the proximal region, enabling sensor termination in a shielded area while maintaining distal sensing capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the hollow inner conductor is made larger to accommodate sensor wires, then sensor placement flexibility is improved, but the device complexity and potential interference with energy delivery increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow inner conductor serves multiple functions: it acts as a structural component of the probe, provides a protected pathway for sensor wire transmission, and maintains the electromagnetic field distribution required for effective energy delivery. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity despite accommodating sensor wires.
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
This solution enables precise temperature monitoring, improved probe navigation, and enhanced tissue ablation control by allowing sensors to operate effectively at the distal tip without interference from the microwave antenna, thereby improving the accuracy and safety of tissue ablation procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a hollow inner conductor extending from the energy delivery device proximal region to the energy delivery device distal region
Implementation Method 2
The energy delivery devices are configured to generate ablative energy (e.g., microwave energy) in a defined region surrounding the inner conductor distal region
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are devices configured for tissue ablation having hollow inner conductors for distal tip sensing access. In particular, energy delivery devices are provided having one or more sensors (e.g., positioning sensors, temperature sensors) positioned outside the distal end of a hollow inner conductor (e.g., within a region configured for ablation energy emission). In certain embodiments, such devices are utilized in systems and methods for delivering energy to tissue for a wide variety of applications, including medical procedures (e.g., tissue ablation, resection, cautery, vascular thrombosis, treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and dysrhythmias, electrosurgery, tissue harvest, etc.).