Ablation Catheter with Occluding Balloons for Lung Tumor Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for ablating lung tumors through the airway face challenges such as limited equipment flexibility, difficulty in navigating ablation electrodes to peripheral tumors, and the unique properties of lung tissue that hinder effective radiofrequency (RF) energy delivery, particularly due to high blood perfusion, air content, and electrical impedance.
Innovation Solution
A system involving a flexible ablation catheter with occluding balloons and RF electrodes that reduces lung tissue air volume by collapsing targeted areas, combined with the injection of hypertonic saline to enhance RF energy delivery, allowing for precise and effective ablation of lung tumors through the bronchial route.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If RF ablation is performed through the airway, then non-surgical treatment is achieved, but effective energy delivery is hindered by high electrical impedance and air content in lung tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by collapsing the targeted lung segment to remove air and reducing blood flow before RF ablation begins. This preparation step eliminates the harmful effects of air content and high electrical impedance that would otherwise prevent effective energy delivery, while still maintaining the advantage of non-surgical access through the airway.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters of the lung tissue by applying mechanical compression to collapse airways and reduce air volume, and by using hypertonic saline to alter tissue electrical properties. These parameter changes transform the lung tissue from a state of high impedance and air content to a state suitable for effective RF energy delivery.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the ablation catheter is made flexible to fit through small working channels, then accessibility to peripheral tumors is improved, but device stability and electrode positioning precision are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is segmented into modular components including a flexible shaft, occluding balloons, and RF electrodes that can be independently positioned and controlled. This segmentation allows the catheter to be flexible enough to navigate through small working channels while maintaining precise control over electrode positioning through separate actuation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary navigation system that bridges the flexibility of the catheter with precise positioning requirements. This intermediary mechanism enables the flexible catheter to reach peripheral tumors while maintaining sufficient stability and positioning precision for effective ablation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If lung tissue is highly perfused with blood flow, then oxygen supply is maintained, but RF energy delivery is cooled and impedance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary action by mechanically compressing the lung segment and using occluding balloons to reduce blood flow to the targeted area before RF ablation. This preparation step decreases the cooling effect and reduces electrical impedance, enabling effective energy delivery while maintaining overall tissue perfusion through controlled, localized intervention.
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 approach enables efficient and controlled ablation of lung tumors by reducing air volume to improve electrode-tissue contact, increasing the effectiveness of RF energy delivery, and creating larger necrotic zones, thus addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
Ablating lung tumors with a catheter-delivered approach may be hampered by the properties of the lung, including the presence of large volumes of air within the lung that increase the path impedance for RF energy and deform the volume of targeted tissue in phase with breathing
Implementation Method 2
WO 2019 051251 A1 and CN 10109464186 A disclose ablation devices with injection of hypertonic saline for treatment of lung tumors
Implementation Method 3
The presence of large volumes of air within the lung that increase the path impedance for RF energy
Implementation Method 4
systems and devices for treating lung tumors... ablating lung tumors with an approach through the patient's airway
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for treatment of a target region of lung tissue including: a flow regulator configured to be interposed between a conductive fluid source and a conductive fluid outlet positionable at or in proximity of the target region of lung tissue, the flow regulator being further configured for controlling a flow rate or a bolus quantity of conductive fluid coming from the fluid source and delivered to the conductive fluid outlet; and a controller communicatively connectable with said flow regulator and with at least one sensor, with the at least one sensor being configured for detecting values taken by at least one control parameter representative of a physical property, wherein the physical property is one of temperature (T), pressure (p), electric impedance (Z), or electric conductivity (C) of material present at or in proximity of the target region of lung tissue. A solution which may be delivered using the system is also disclosed.