Low-Profile Catheter for Distal Lung Cryoablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cryosurgery systems face challenges in accessing and treating distal lung tissue due to the large diameter of traditional probes, which are unable to traverse the small airway passages effectively, limiting precision and safety in cryogenic ablation of lung lesions.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile, high-pressure, closed-tipped catheter or probe is designed to pass through a bronchoscope's working channel, utilizing the Joule-Thomson effect to deliver cryogen and create extreme cold at the tip, allowing for precise cryoablation in distal lung regions, guided by a navigation system that generates a 3D model of the lung's lumens for accurate targeting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If traditional large-diameter cryosurgery probes are used, then cryogenic ablation can be performed, but the probes cannot traverse the small airway passages in distal lung regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the cryogen delivery system by using high pressure (up to 1000 psi for argon or 100 psi for nitrogen) to enable small-diameter catheters to deliver sufficient cryogen flow. This parameter change allows the catheter to maintain both small size for traversing distal airways and sufficient pressure for effective cryoablation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pneumatic principles by employing compressed gas (argon or nitrogen) as the cryogen delivery mechanism. The high-pressure gas system enables the small catheter to deliver cryogen effectively through the pressure differential, resolving the contradiction between small diameter and sufficient delivery capability
2Productivity
If high-pressure cryogen delivery is used, then throughput and cooling efficiency improve, but the probe diameter increases making it unable to traverse distal airways
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter to extremely high levels (100-1000 psi depending on gas type) which enables small-diameter catheters to achieve sufficient cryogen throughput. The high pressure compensates for the small cross-sectional area, maintaining productivity while minimizing catheter diameter
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic delivery of compressed cryogen gas through the small catheter. The high-pressure gas system provides sufficient mass flow rate for effective cooling despite the small catheter bore, resolving the contradiction between throughput and diameter
3Temperature
If high input pressure is used to achieve cryogenic temperatures, then cooling efficiency improves, but safety risks increase and larger profile needles are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter to high levels necessary for achieving cryogenic temperatures at the catheter tip, while accepting the inherent safety risks. The high pressure (100-1000 psi) is required to generate sufficient cooling power to reach therapeutic cryogenic temperatures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the compressed gas itself as the intermediary that transfers energy from the high-pressure source to the tissue. The gas expands at the catheter tip, converting pressure energy to cooling effect, which allows the high pressure to be contained within the catheter while the cooling effect is applied externally to the 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
Enables precise and safe cryoablation of distal lung tissue with reduced risk, as the catheter's small diameter allows it to reach distal regions, and the navigation system ensures accurate targeting, improving treatment accessibility and efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing the Joule-Thomson effect to deliver cryogen and create extreme cold at the tip
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates generally to cryosurgery apparatuses and systems for and methods of treatment of distal lung tissue or lesions, and more particularly to guided cryogenic delivery to a distal treatment area within lung tissue via a low-profile, high pressure, closed-tipped catheter or probe configured to pass through a working channel of a bronchoscope and extend to a distal region of the lung.