Inflatable Membrane for Laser Thermotherapy Heat Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current interstitial laser thermotherapy techniques face challenges such as non-uniform treatment due to anisotropic laser emission, excessive temperature rise near the optical fiber, vaporization, and carbonization of tissues, and the risk of tumor cell spread with coolant liquids.
Innovation Solution
A device using a hollow needle with an inflatable membrane to guide the optical fiber, which compresses surrounding tissue for improved heat conduction and reduces heat removal, allowing for a larger treatment area with controlled temperature distribution and reduced risk of vaporization and carbonization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the laser power is increased to reach therapeutically effective temperatures at greater distances from the fiber, then the treatment area is expanded, but excessive temperatures cause damage to the fiber
Solution Approach 1:
A hollow needle with inflatable membrane acts as an intermediary structure between the optical fiber and the tumor tissue. The membrane can be inflated to push surrounding tissue away from the fiber, creating a protective barrier that prevents direct contact between the fiber and tissue while still allowing effective treatment. This intermediary structure enables expanded treatment area without exposing the fiber to excessive temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment system is segmented into distinct functional components: the optical fiber for energy delivery, the hollow needle for positioning, and the inflatable membrane for tissue displacement and protection. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the fiber delivers laser energy while the membrane handles tissue management, preventing fiber-tissue contact and enabling safer operation at higher powers.
2Productivity
If the laser power is increased to treat larger volumes of tissue, then more tumor tissue can be treated per session, but vaporization and carbonization of surrounding tissue occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable membrane serves as a protective intermediary that physically separates the high-power laser fiber from the surrounding tissue. By inflating the membrane, tissue is pushed away from the fiber tip, creating a buffer zone that prevents direct thermal contact. This allows higher laser powers to be applied to treat larger tumor volumes without causing vaporization or carbonization of adjacent healthy tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is inflated before laser treatment to pre-position tissue away from the fiber and create a protective barrier. This preliminary action ensures that when high-power laser energy is applied, the tissue is already displaced and protected, preventing vaporization and carbonization while enabling treatment of larger volumes.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If coolant liquid is introduced into the treated area to reduce temperature, then tissue damage is reduced, but the liquid can spread tumor cells and the procedure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the coolant liquid component from the treatment system, replacing it with a mechanical solution using an inflatable membrane. This removes the source of potential tumor cell spread while simplifying the procedure. The membrane provides temperature control indirectly by displacing tissue away from the fiber, avoiding the need for complex coolant circulation systems.
4Use of energy by moving object
If the optical fiber is placed in direct contact with tumor tissue for effective treatment, then heat transfer is efficient, but non-uniform temperature distribution occurs and treatment precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the interaction between the fiber and tissue by introducing the inflatable membrane as a separate component. The fiber maintains contact with the membrane rather than direct tissue contact, creating a controlled interface that distributes heat more uniformly across the treatment area while maintaining efficient energy transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable membrane creates a localized controlled environment at the fiber-tissue interface. By inflating the membrane, tissue is displaced to create a consistent gap that ensures uniform heat distribution across the treatment area, while the membrane itself provides a controlled thermal interface that maintains efficiency.
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 achieves more uniform and extensive tissue treatment with controlled temperature, minimizing damage to the fiber and preventing tumor cell spread, while maintaining effective necrosis of tumor tissue.
Implementation Method 1
compresses surrounding tissue for improved heat conduction and reduces heat removal
Implementation Method 2
applying heat to the tumor tissue in order to destroy the tumor cells by the effect of the hyperthermia generated by the laser energy absorbed by the tissues
Implementation Method 3
The energy emitted from the distal end of the fiber is absorbed by the surrounding tumor tissue and causes a temperature increase
Implementation Method 4
an optical fiber is inserted into the needle to act as a light guide or wave guide for guiding into the treatment area the laser energy
Data Source
AI summary
The device for interstitial laser thermotherapy of tumors comprises an hollow needle (3) with a point (3A) for perforating a tissue (T) to be treated, and a light guide (9) which can be inserted in said hollow needle. The hollow needle is associated with a membrane (17) which is inflatable to form a balloon (P) into which the distal end (9A) of said light guide (9) can project, the membrane being inflated to create a cavity in the tissue to be treated into which laser radiation is guided by said light guide.