Microwave Ablation Probe with Dielectric Tip for Lung Tumors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microwave ablation devices face challenges in accurately targeting and treating lung tumors due to the small dimensions of the bronchial tree, leading to complications such as pneumothorax and haemothorax, and inefficiencies in energy delivery to the target tissue.
Innovation Solution
An electrosurgical instrument with a coaxial cable and a radiating tip portion designed to deliver microwave energy, featuring a dielectric tip with a high dielectric constant to create a localized microwave field, allowing for precise tissue ablation with reduced side effects and improved impedance matching, and optionally incorporating steering control, temperature sensing, and vision systems for enhanced feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If percutaneous insertion is used to deliver microwave energy to lung tumors, then access to the target site is achieved, but complications such as pneumothorax and haemothorax occur due to difficulty in locating the percutaneous entry point into the moving lung
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bronchoscope as an intermediary device to navigate through the airways to the lung tumor site. The electrosurgical probe is delivered through the bronchoscope's working channel, allowing precise positioning of the radiating tip at the target site without requiring percutaneous insertion into the lung parenchyma, thereby eliminating the risk of pneumothorax and haemothorax while maintaining access to the tumor.
2Loss of energy
If a probe is inserted close to the target site through airways, then energy delivery efficiency is improved, but the small dimensions of the bronchial tree make positioning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the delivery system into two functional segments: a bronchoscope for navigation through the airways and a separate electrosurgical probe for energy delivery. The probe can be advanced through the bronchoscope's working channel to the target site, allowing the radiating tip to be positioned close to the tumor for efficient energy delivery while using the bronchoscope's navigation capabilities to overcome the positioning difficulties in the small bronchial tree.
3Manufacturing precision
If a dielectric tip with high dielectric constant is used at the radiating portion, then localized microwave field is created for precise ablation, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating a dielectric tip with high dielectric constant specifically at the radiating portion of the electrosurgical probe, while the rest of the probe and bronchoscope remain relatively simple structures. This localized dielectric material creates a concentrated microwave field at the tip for precise tissue ablation, achieving high manufacturing precision without requiring the entire device to be complex.
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 solution enables efficient, minimally invasive microwave ablation with reduced complications and improved energy delivery to lung tumors, enhancing treatment precision and reducing strain on patients by allowing for precise ablation with minimal healthy tissue damage.
Implementation Method 1
a dielectric tip formed from a second dielectric material that is different from the first dielectric material, and a distal conductive portion of the inner conductor, which extends longitudinally into the dielectric tip, and wherein the second dielectric material has a dielectric constant greater than the first dielectric material, whereby the radiating tip portion is arranged to radiate a localized microwave field for tissue ablation
Implementation Method 2
a coaxial cable for conveying microwave energy, the coaxial cable having an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and a first dielectric material separating the inner conductor and outer conductor
Data Source
AI summary
An electrosurgical instrument for use in minimally invasive surgical techniques that provides a small scale localized microwave field capable of precisely ablating tissue, e.g. in the lungs, through suitable selection of geometry and material for a radiating distal tip thereof. The instrument may be used with a bronchoscope having a power delivery structure formed within the instrument cord thereof. A vision system may be incorporated into the energy delivery structure. The instrument includes a coaxial cable for conveying microwave energy to a radiating tip portion that comprises a dielectric tip and a distal conductive portion that extends longitudinally therein. The dielectric tip has a dielectric constant greater than a dielectric material within the coaxial cable. The distal end of the device is designed to facilitate efficient microwave energy delivery into lung tumour tissue to achieve a localized volume of ablation.