Laser Enucleation of Prostate Vapor Bubble Delivery Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser devices used in procedures like laser enucleation of the prostate (LEP) and laser ablation of the prostate (LAP) face challenges such as fiber burnback, endoscope damage, and reduced efficiency due to the interaction of laser beams with liquid environments.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a method and apparatus that manipulate laser pulse parameters and bubble formation to reduce fiber burnback and endoscope damage. This includes generating one or more vapor bubbles to displace liquid medium, allowing the laser pulses to be delivered through the bubbles, and using a bubble shaping element to control bubble size and shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If laser beams are delivered through liquid environment to target tissue, then tissue treatment is achieved, but fiber burnback and endoscope damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
A vapor bubble is introduced as an intermediary medium between the laser fiber and the target tissue. The bubble displaces the liquid environment from the fiber tip region, allowing laser energy to be delivered through the bubble rather than through the liquid. This prevents direct contact between the laser beam and the liquid environment that causes fiber burnback, while still enabling effective treatment of the target tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful liquid environment is extracted or removed from the critical region around the fiber tip. By generating a vapor bubble that displaces the liquid, the system eliminates the liquid medium from the immediate pathway between the fiber and target tissue, thereby removing the source of fiber burnback and endoscope damage.
2Reliability
If laser beams are delivered through liquid environment to target tissue, then tissue treatment is achieved, but endoscope wear occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The vapor bubble serves as a protective intermediary that shields the endoscope from direct exposure to the liquid environment. By positioning the bubble between the endoscope tip and the target tissue, it prevents the liquid from causing wear on the endoscope while still allowing laser energy to reach the tissue effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid environment is extracted from the region surrounding the endoscope tip through vapor bubble formation. This removal of the liquid medium eliminates the source of endoscope wear, protecting the endoscope from degradation while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
3Productivity
If laser beams are delivered through liquid environment to target tissue, then treatment is performed, but efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The vapor bubble acts as an optical intermediary with superior laser energy transmission properties compared to the liquid environment. By delivering laser energy through the bubble rather than through the liquid, the system reduces energy attenuation and improves the efficiency of energy delivery to the target tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid environment, which causes energy attenuation, is extracted from the laser pathway through vapor bubble formation. This removal of the absorbing liquid medium allows laser energy to travel more efficiently to the target tissue, reducing energy loss and improving treatment effectiveness.
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 approach effectively reduces fiber tip burnback and endoscope wear, enhances the efficiency of laser energy delivery to the target tissue, and improves tissue separation and treatment outcomes in procedures like LEP and LAP.
Implementation Method 1
generating one or more vapor bubbles to displace liquid medium
Implementation Method 2
laser pulses being configured to have an energy sufficient to form one or more vapor bubbles
Implementation Method 3
expand an amount sufficient to displace a substantial portion of the liquid medium from the space between the distal delivery end of the fiber and the target tissue
Implementation Method 4
laser pulses being delivered to the target tissue through the inflated second bubble
Implementation Method 5
the interaction of the laser beam with the surrounding liquid within the working environment
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for the treatment of a target tissue with a laser beam in which the target tissue is immersed in a liquid medium within a body lumen. The laser device is configured to provide one or more laser pulses which are configured by a controller to have an energy sufficient to form one or more vapor bubbles in the liquid medium at the distal delivery end of the fiber. The one or more pulses are configured by the controller to: first, cause a vapor bubble to be formed distally of the distal end portion of the endoscope and around the distal delivery end of the optical fiber; second, cause a second bubble to be formed distally of the first bubble; and, third, inflate the second bubble as the first bubble has begun to collapse to expand an amount sufficient to displace a substantial portion of the liquid medium from the space between the distal delivery end of the fiber and the target tissue.