Microwave Ablation System with Interactive Probe Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical procedures for tissue ablation require surgeons to rely on experience and published specifications to select appropriate electrosurgical probes and parameters, which can lead to inconsistent ablation volumes and desired surgical outcomes due to the lack of precise control over microwave energy field size and shape.
Innovation Solution
An electromagnetic surgical ablation system with a generator assembly, processor, and user interface that allows surgeons to select and confirm the appropriate microwave antenna probe based on graphical representations and stored probe parameters, enabling precise control over ablation patterns and shapes through a database and interactive interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional electrosurgical probes and parameters are selected based on surgeon experience and published specifications, then the surgical procedure can be performed with existing equipment, but the ablation volume and shape cannot be precisely controlled leading to inconsistent surgical outcomes
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts microwave energy delivery parameters (power, duration, frequency) based on real-time tissue impedance monitoring and pre-programmed protocols to achieve precise ablation volumes. The generator module can modify energy delivery characteristics during the procedure to match the selected ablation pattern requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple energy delivery parameters simultaneously (power level, pulse duration, duty cycle, frequency) to create different ablation patterns. The generator stores and retrieves specific parameter sets corresponding to different ablation patterns, enabling precise control over ablation volume and shape without requiring complex physical probe modifications.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different ablation patterns and shapes are required for different surgical procedures (e.g., spinal vs. prostate ablation), then the surgical outcomes can be optimized for specific procedures, but the selection and matching of appropriate probes and parameters becomes complex and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The generator module serves multiple functions: it stores database information about various probes and ablation patterns, processes surgeon input to select appropriate parameters, controls microwave energy delivery, and monitors tissue impedance. This multi-functional integration allows a single device to handle diverse ablation requirements across different surgical procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically matches probe selections with appropriate ablation patterns and parameters through the database and processor. When a surgeon selects a probe type, the system self-configures the corresponding energy delivery parameters and ablation pattern without requiring manual calculation or complex setup, reducing the burden on the surgeon.
3Reliability
If the ablation volume is increased to ensure complete treatment of target tissue, then the therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but the risk of damaging surrounding healthy tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates highly localized ablation zones with precisely controlled boundaries by adjusting energy delivery parameters. Different regions of tissue receive tailored energy doses based on the selected ablation pattern, ensuring complete destruction of target tissue while maintaining lower energy levels at the periphery to protect surrounding healthy structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors tissue impedance changes during energy delivery and uses this feedback to adjust power levels in real-time. This closed-loop control prevents energy delivery from exceeding safe thresholds that could damage surrounding tissue, while ensuring sufficient energy is delivered to achieve complete ablation of the target volume.
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 surgeons to accurately select and use the appropriate surgical instruments for specific procedures, ensuring consistent and desired ablation volumes, thereby improving the precision and effectiveness of surgical outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a generator module that is configured to provide radiofrequency surgical energy, such as electrosurgical or microwave energy
Implementation Method 2
a high radio frequency energy in the range of about 300 mHz to about 300 gHz is applied to a targeted tissue site to create an ablation volume
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a system and method for enabling user preview and control of the size and shape of an electromagnetic energy field used in a surgical procedure. The disclosed system includes a selectively activatable source of microwave surgical energy in the range of about 900 mHz to about 5 gHz in operable communication with a graphical user interface and a database. The database is populated with data corresponding to the various surgical probes, such as microwave ablation antenna probes, that may include a probe identifier, the probe diameter, operational frequency of the probe, ablation length of the probe, ablation diameter of the probe, a temporal coefficient, a shape metric, and the like. The probe data is graphically presented on the graphical user interface where the surgeon may interactively view and select an appropriate surgical probe. Three-dimensional views of the probe(s) may be presented allowing the surgeon to interactively rotate the displayed image.