Liquid Metal Electrode RF Ablation for Peripheral Lung Tumors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiofrequency ablation techniques for treating peripheral lung tumors face challenges due to insufficient ablation coverage and difficulty in navigating electrodes to small-diameter peripheral pulmonary lesions, necessitating flexible and soft electrodes that can effectively ablate tumors closer to the lung periphery.
Innovation Solution
The use of bronchial branches filled with liquid metal (eGaIn) as electrodes, isolated by an occlusion balloon and subjected to an RF current, allows for effective ablation of tumors within these branches, with the liquid metal being removed by suction post-procedure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional rigid electrodes are used for radiofrequency ablation, then the ablation process can be performed, but the electrodes cannot navigate to small-diameter peripheral pulmonary lesions and provide sufficient ablation coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the electrode material from solid rigid to liquid, allowing the electrode to flow and conform to the bronchial tree structure. This enables the electrode to navigate to and contact tumors in small-diameter peripheral pulmonary lesions while maintaining sufficient ablation coverage through the liquid metal's ability to spread along the bronchial branches.
2Ease of operation
If flexible soft electrodes are used to navigate small-diameter peripheral pulmonary lesions, then navigation ease improves, but the ablation effectiveness and coverage are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses liquid metal (eGaIn) as the electrode material, leveraging the properties of a fluid to enable both flexibility for navigation and effective ablation. The liquid metal can be injected through the bronchial tree, conforms to the bronchial branches and tumors, and provides reliable RF conduction for effective ablation, thus resolving the contradiction between flexibility and ablation effectiveness.
3Reliability
If liquid metal is used as electrode material, then ablation coverage and effectiveness are improved, but the complexity of the procedure increases due to additional steps for injection and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid metal electrode system is designed to be self-contained and self-removing. The liquid metal is injected through a catheter, performs the ablation function, and then can be easily removed through the same catheter using suction or gravity, eliminating the need for complex removal procedures or additional instruments. This reduces the net complexity despite the innovative material used.
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
This method provides improved ablation coverage and effectiveness in treating peripheral lung tumors by utilizing the bronchial branches as RF electrodes, ensuring sufficient ablation while maintaining the integrity of the surrounding lung tissue.
Implementation Method 1
applying an RF current to the isolated liquid metal in the branches
Implementation Method 2
radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been utilized for treating peripheral lung tumors
Implementation Method 3
isolating within the branches with the occlusion balloon
Implementation Method 4
the liquid metal is removed by suction
Data Source
AI summary
An RF (radiofrequency) ablation catheter device having a flexible shaft, a distal end, an inflatable balloon mounted on the shaft, having a portion of the flexible shaft that is distal to the inflatable balloon and an RF electrode located on the distal segment of the shaft. A device and method of treating a tumor in a patient having a liquid conductive material, inserting an ablation catheter device into a body organ, advancing the ablation catheter device to a passageway at a target site in the body organ, instilling a volume of the liquid conductive material into the passageway; and applying an RF current to the liquid conductive material.