Medical Tissue Cooling Device Using Passive Two-Phase Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling systems in medical applications suffer from insufficient cooling capacity and require moving components and external power supplies, limiting their effectiveness and mobility.
Innovation Solution
A medical device utilizing two-phase heat transfer with an evaporative structure to promote evaporation of a working fluid, providing high cooling capacity without external power, and optionally integrating a heating element for temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional cooling systems are used in medical applications, then cooling function is provided, but cooling capacity is insufficient and device complexity increases due to moving components and external power supplies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cooling systems (compressors, fans, external power supplies) with a passive evaporative cooling mechanism. The cooling device uses capillary channels and phase change of working fluid to provide cooling without moving parts or external power, thereby increasing cooling capacity while reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling device is designed to be self-regulating through passive evaporative cooling. The working fluid automatically circulates through capillary channels, absorbing heat from target tissue and dissipating it through evaporation at the outer surface, eliminating the need for external control systems, power supplies, or moving components
2Ease of operation
If conventional cooling systems are used in medical applications, then cooling function is provided, but mobility is limited due to external power supplies and moving components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical components and external power supplies by using passive evaporative cooling with capillary-driven fluid circulation. This makes the cooling device portable and mobile, suitable for various medical procedures without requiring complex infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the external power supply and moving components from the cooling system, retaining only the essential cooling function through passive evaporative mechanisms. This simplifies the device for portable medical use while maintaining effective cooling capacity
3Productivity
If heating treatment is applied to target tissue, then desired medical procedure is performed, but non-target tissue may be damaged due to heat spread
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary cooling to non-target tissue surrounding the target treatment area before and during heating treatment. This creates a thermal protective barrier that prevents heat spread to adjacent healthy tissue, allowing effective heating of target tissue while protecting surrounding areas from thermal damage
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling device is designed to provide localized cooling specifically at the boundaries of the target treatment zone. By concentrating cooling capacity where needed, the system protects non-target tissue from heat spread while allowing effective heating of the target area, optimizing treatment effectiveness and safety
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 achieves significantly enhanced cooling capacity, improved mobility, and precise temperature control, reducing the risk of damage to non-target tissue and accelerating medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The evaporative structure is designed to promote evaporation of the working fluid to cool the base to a predetermined operating temperature
Implementation Method 2
The medical device leverages two-phase heat transfer to provide an extremely high cooling capacity when compared to conventional state-of-the-art cooling mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for a medical device configured to provide cooling to a tissue region are provided. The medical device may be configured to noninvasively or invasively cool the tissue region to a predetermined operating temperature via a two-phase heat transfer process.