Intracooled Microwave Ablation Probe With Nested Cooling Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microwave tissue treatment devices face challenges in controlling temperature, leading to undesirable heating of both the treatment site and surrounding tissue due to ohmic heating and feedline losses, which increases the invasiveness of procedures and risks to tissue health.
Innovation Solution
A microwave tissue treatment device with an antenna assembly incorporating a cooling system that includes inlet and outlet conduits for circulating a heat dissipative fluid through the radiating section, reducing temperature by direct contact with the fluid and using baffle members to divide the cavity into regions for targeted temperature regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If external cooling jackets are employed to prevent high temperatures, then temperature control is improved, but the gauge size of the device increases and invasiveness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is nested within the antenna structure by integrating cooling channels directly into the antenna body and positioning the radiating section within a cavity formed by the sheath. This nested arrangement allows the cooling function to be incorporated without increasing the overall gauge size of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from external cooling (adding volume in radial dimension) to internal cooling (utilizing the longitudinal dimension within the antenna structure). The cooling channels are positioned along the length of the antenna, utilizing the longitudinal space rather than adding radial bulk.
2Volume of moving object
If cooling channels are integrated within the dielectric material, then device size is reduced, but the complexity of the device structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dielectric material serves multiple functions: it provides electrical insulation between conductors, maintains the structural integrity of the antenna, and houses the cooling channels. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing complexity while achieving compact size.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling channels are merged with the dielectric material structure rather than being separate components. The dielectric material is formed to include channels that accommodate cooling conduits, combining the insulation function and cooling function into a single integrated component.
3Measurement precision
If baffle members are used to divide the cavity into regions, then temperature regulation precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity is segmented into multiple regions using baffle members that divide the space along the longitudinal axis. This segmentation allows different sections of the radiating element to be cooled independently, enabling precise temperature control in different zones without requiring a completely complex cooling system architecture.
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 cooling system effectively reduces the risk of overheating, minimizing tissue damage and maintaining optimal energy delivery during procedures while reducing the device's size and invasiveness, thus enhancing the safety and efficacy of microwave tissue treatments.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling system includes inlet and outlet conduits that are configured and dimensioned to circulate a fluid through the antenna assembly... the inlet and outlet conduits are at least partially disposed within the channel or channels of the dielectric material, and are in communication with the at least one cavity such that at least a portion of the radiating section is in contact with the fluid
Implementation Method 2
circulate a fluid through the cooling system such that the cooling fluid is in fluid communication with at least a portion of the inner conductor
Implementation Method 3
The inlet and outlet conduits are at least partially disposed within the channel or channels of the dielectric material... configured and dimensioned to circulate a fluid through the antenna assembly
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for the treatment of tissue with microwave energy. The devices and methods disclosed herein incorporate an antenna assembly comprising outer and inner conductors having a dielectric material interposed therebetween, a sealing barrier, and a cooling system to minimize the likelihood that the antenna assembly will overheat.