Microwave Amplifier Array for Pulsed Electrosurgical Power
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrosurgical generators face challenges in delivering high power microwave frequency pulses efficiently for tissue coagulation or ablation, leading to prolonged treatment times and unwanted thermal effects due to continuous energy delivery, which can cause patient discomfort and inefficiencies in energy targeting.
Innovation Solution
An amplifier line-up for an electrosurgical generator that includes a microwave signal generator, modulator, and an amplifier module with an array of amplifiers connected in parallel, capable of producing high power microwave pulses with short durations and adjustable duty cycles, reducing thermal losses and allowing for more precise energy delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If continuous microwave energy is delivered to achieve the required energy payload, then the total treatment time increases, but thermal losses and patient discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic pulsed action by delivering microwave energy in short high-power bursts rather than continuous delivery. The modulator controls the amplifiers to output pulsed microwave signals with adjustable duty cycles, creating periodic energy delivery that achieves the required energy payload faster while minimizing thermal losses and patient discomfort during non-pulse intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of the amplifier array through a modulator that can adjust pulse width, duty cycle, and timing. This dynamic modulation allows the system to adapt the energy delivery pattern in real-time, optimizing the balance between treatment speed and thermal effect minimization by varying the pulse characteristics during treatment.
2Productivity
If high power microwave pulses are delivered to reduce treatment time, then energy delivery efficiency improves, but thermal effects in the feed structure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The periodic pulsed delivery allows the feed structure (coaxial cable) to dissipate heat between pulses, preventing cumulative thermal buildup. The short pulse durations followed by intervals create a thermal cycle that enables heat dissipation, allowing high power delivery without excessive thermal losses in the feed structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by delivering energy in rapid successive pulses that collectively achieve the required energy payload efficiently. The pulsed sequence provides continuous treatment effect on the tissue while the intervals between pulses allow thermal management in the feed structure, maintaining overall treatment continuity without excessive heating.
3Power
If an array of amplifiers is used to increase power output, then the microwave power delivered to tissue increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power amplification function into multiple parallel amplifiers rather than using a single high-power amplifier. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high total power output by combining the outputs of several lower-power amplifiers, with each amplifier handling a portion of the total power requirement, thereby managing complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the outputs of multiple parallel amplifiers through a combiner network to produce a single high-power microwave output signal. The combiner integrates the individual amplifier outputs constructively, achieving the desired high power level while distributing the complexity across multiple manageable amplifier units rather than requiring one complex high-power amplifier.
4Manufacturing precision
If short pulse durations are used to minimize thermal effects, then energy targeting precision improves, but the required power level increases
Solution Approach 1:
The short periodic pulses deliver energy precisely to the target tissue before thermal diffusion can occur, achieving excellent energy targeting precision. The brief pulse durations ensure that energy is deposited only in the intended location without significant thermal spread, while the periodic nature allows for controlled peak power delivery that is managed through the amplifier array and modulator.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmentation of power across multiple parallel amplifiers allows the system to generate the required high peak power levels for short pulses. Each amplifier contributes to the total peak power, distributing the stress and complexity of high-power generation across multiple units, making the high peak power requirement achievable without excessive complexity in any single component.
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 solution enables faster treatment times, minimizes thermal effects, and allows for the use of smaller coaxial cables, improving patient comfort and the effectiveness of energy delivery while reducing the need for cooling systems and extending the apparatus' lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
an amplifier module connect to the modulator and arranged to increase the power of pulses of microwave EM radiation received therefrom, the amplifier module comprising an array of amplifiers connected in parallel, wherein output signals from the array of amplifiers are combined to produce an output microwave signal
Implementation Method 2
a microwave signal generator for generating microwave electromagnetic (EM) radiation
Implementation Method 3
a modulator arranged to pulse the microwave EM radiation
Implementation Method 4
a feed structure for conveying the output microwave signal to a probe
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus capable of generating high power microwave frequency pulses for use with an electrosurgical device. The apparatus may be used for coagulating or ablating biological tissue. The apparatus includes an amplifier line-up comprising: a microwave signal generator for generating microwave radiation; a modulator arranged to pulse the microwave radiation; and an amplifier module arranged to increase the power of pulses of microwave radiation. The amplifier module works by providing a set of amplifiers that exhibit a gain that is greater than the total loss experienced at the components that divide the input signal and then combine the output signals. For example, if each amplifier in the array has a gain of 10 dBm, it is viable to use conventional power splitters and combiners to obtain an output microwave signal with substantially higher power than is provided by conventional electrosurgical generators.