Laparoscopic Ablation Applicator for Perivascular Neuromodulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing minimally-invasive treatments for neuromodulation, such as renal denervation, face challenges in effectively targeting nerve fibers outside the vessel wall due to the limitations of transvascular catheter-based approaches, which often require ablation through the vessel wall, increasing the risk of vessel damage and reducing treatment efficacy.
Innovation Solution
A laparoscopic ablation device with integrated electrodes and a force transmission unit, allowing for irreversible electroporation and RF ablation, enabling direct perivascular neuromodulation through a laparoscopic applicator that can grip, suction, or clamp tissue, combined with a system for controlling and evaluating energy delivery to optimize tissue contact and minimize thermal effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If transvascular catheter-based ablation is used to treat nerve fibers, then the procedure is minimally-invasive, but the treatment efficacy is reduced because nerve fibers outside the vessel wall cannot be reached directly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the vessel wall as an intermediary structure to bridge the gap between the catheter-based approach and the perivascular nerve fibers. The ablation device delivers energy through the vessel wall to reach and treat the nerve fibers located outside the artery, thus maintaining minimal invasiveness while improving treatment efficacy.
2Reliability
If ablation is performed through the vessel wall to reach outer nerve fibers, then direct contact with nerve fibers is achieved, but the risk of vessel damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies ablation energy locally and selectively to the nerve fibers through the vessel wall, rather than uniformly heating the entire vessel wall. The energy delivery is focused on specific regions where nerve fibers are located, minimizing collateral damage to the vessel structure while achieving effective neuromodulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The ablation device delivers energy in periodic pulses or cycles, allowing for controlled energy delivery through the vessel wall. This periodic action enables sufficient energy accumulation to reach the nerve fibers while providing intervals for heat dissipation, thereby reducing the risk of excessive vessel wall damage.
3Reliability
If high voltage pulses are applied to achieve required field strength for IRE, then pore formation in cell membranes is effective, but thermal energy input and temperature peaks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The IRE device delivers high voltage pulses in a periodic manner with specific pulse widths and intervals. The pulsed delivery allows the electrical field to accumulate sufficient strength for effective pore formation in cell membranes while the intervals between pulses allow thermal energy to dissipate, preventing excessive temperature peaks and thermal damage to surrounding tissue.
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 facilitates targeted neuromodulation by reducing energy input and minimizing vessel damage while enhancing treatment efficacy through selective irreversible electroporation and RF ablation, allowing for precise energy delivery and improved tissue contact.
Implementation Method 1
The use of short high-voltage electrical pulses and the high electrical field strengths associated therewith, which act on the tissue, have, however, already been the subject of intensive research for more than four decades. This application method is categorised as a non-thermal procedure, since it is based on the delivery of short pulses with a high voltage amplitude, which generate between active electrode pairs a locally strong electrical field in the region of up to several thousand volts per centimetre. This field strength leads to the formation for a short time of pores in the cell membranes.
Implementation Method 2
This distinguishes it significantly from conventional RF ablation (RF: radiofrequency), in which the tissue temperature increases by 20 to 70° C. and cells are destroyed by heat.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention describes a device for use in laparoscopic surgery, and a system for laparoscopic ablation. A method for perivascular and/or perineural neuromodulation is also disclosed.