Impedance Bridge Tissue Type Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional medical devices face challenges in accurately determining tissue types at target locations during minimally invasive procedures, leading to potential misapplication of medical tools due to inaccurate positioning and physiological changes.

Innovation Solution

A medical device with an instrument head featuring two or more electrodes and an impedance bridge, coupled to a processor, records impedance measurements at various frequencies to generate a tissue type map, ensuring accurate identification of tissue types before or during tool activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If visual inspection or biopsy is used to determine tissue type, then tissue type can be identified, but accurate positioning and confirmation of target location cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue type identification accuracyVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical/visual inspection methods with electrical impedance measurement. The system uses electrodes to measure impedance characteristics of tissue, which provides objective, quantifiable data for tissue type identification and positioning confirmation, eliminating reliance on subjective visual inspection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces impedance measurement as an intermediary method between tool positioning and tissue type determination. The impedance bridge and measurement system serve as a mediator that provides additional information about tissue characteristics without requiring direct visual inspection or biopsy, enabling more reliable confirmation of target location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If triangulation or ultrasound imaging is used for positioning, then target location can be determined, but calibration errors and physiological changes reduce accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidtissue type identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary impedance measurements to characterize tissue types before applying therapeutic tools. By measuring impedance at multiple frequencies and comparing against known tissue signatures, the system预先 identifies tissue types and confirms positioning accuracy, allowing correction or adjustment before treatment begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors impedance characteristics and provides feedback about tissue type identification and positioning accuracy. This feedback loop allows real-time verification that the tool is positioned correctly and that the intended tissue type is being treated, enabling adjustments if physiological changes occur during the procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If multiple measurement methods are used to determine tissue type, then accuracy improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue type identification accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the impedance bridge system multi-functional by using it for both tissue type identification and positioning confirmation. The same electrodes and impedance measurement circuitry serve multiple purposes: characterizing tissue electrical properties, confirming tool positioning, and monitoring treatment progress, eliminating the need for separate measurement systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines tissue type determination and positioning verification into a single impedance measurement system. By merging these functions into one integrated approach using the impedance bridge, the system achieves high measurement precision without the added complexity of multiple separate measurement devices or methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 device ensures that medical tools are applied to the correct tissue type, such as a tumor, rather than healthy tissue, providing more accurate and reliable procedures for delivering therapeutic drugs or extracting samples compared to conventional methods.

Implementation Method 1

an impedance bridge selectively coupled to the two or more electrodes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical Impedance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentUS20220233089A1Techniques for determining tissue types

Publication Date: 2022.07.28 NOVASCAN INC

AI summary

In various embodiments, a medical device includes an instrument head that includes two or more electrodes and a medical device tool, an impedance bridge selectively coupled to the two or more electrodes, and a processor coupled to the impedance bridge. In various embodiments, a method for controlling medical device tools comprises recording, at one or more frequencies, two or more impedance measurements, wherein each impedance measurement is associated with two or more electrodes included in an instrument head of a medical device; and determining, based on the two or more impedance measurements, a tissue type map at a location associated with the instrument head.