Steerable Microwave Catheter Cooling for Lung Tissue Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy delivery devices, particularly for microwave ablation, are limited in size and flexibility, making it difficult to accurately place energy delivery devices in hard-to-reach body regions such as the lungs, and they often cause undesired heating and burning along the delivery pathway.
Innovation Solution
A coaxial or triaxial microwave energy delivery device with a coolant system that flows through separate channels to manage heat and a steerable navigation catheter system for precise placement, allowing energy delivery to distant and difficult-to-reach tissue regions while minimizing tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If microwave energy is delivered to distant tissue regions through long transmission lines, then energy delivery capability is improved, but heat generation along the transmission path increases causing tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
A cooling fluid is introduced as an intermediary substance flowing through channels in the transmission line to absorb and carry away heat generated during microwave energy transmission, preventing tissue damage along the delivery path
Solution Approach 2:
A hydraulic cooling system is implemented where cooling fluid is pumped through internal channels of the transmission line, using fluid dynamics to efficiently remove heat and maintain safe operating temperatures during energy delivery
2Ease of operation
If the device is made flexible to navigate difficult-to-reach regions, then accessibility is improved, but structural stability and energy delivery reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission line is constructed with flexible materials and thin-walled structures that allow the device to navigate complex anatomical pathways while maintaining sufficient structural integrity to transmit microwave energy reliably to the target
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission line employs composite construction combining flexible polymers with embedded cooling channels and conductive elements, achieving both flexibility for navigation and structural reliability for consistent energy delivery
3Power
If energy delivery power is increased to treat distant targets, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but heat generation along the pathway increases causing burning
Solution Approach 1:
Cooling fluid serves as a heat sink intermediary, absorbing excess thermal energy generated by high-power microwave transmission and transporting it away from the transmission path, enabling safe delivery of therapeutic power levels
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system utilizes phase change of the cooling fluid (liquid to vapor) to efficiently absorb large amounts of heat energy, allowing high-power energy delivery without causing tissue burning along the transmission path
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 effective energy delivery to remote body areas like central and peripheral lung tissues with reduced heat release along the transmission path, facilitating precise ablation procedures with minimal tissue damage.
Implementation Method 1
A coaxial or triaxial microwave energy delivery device with a coolant system that flows through separate channels to manage heat
Implementation Method 2
a coolant system that flows through separate channels to manage heat
Implementation Method 3
A coaxial or triaxial microwave energy delivery device
Implementation Method 4
delivering energy to tissue for a wide variety of applications, including medical procedures (e.g., tissue ablation)
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods for delivering energy to tissue for a wide variety of applications, including medical procedures (e.g., tissue ablation, resection, cautery, vascular thrombosis, treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and dysrhythmias, electrosurgery, tissue harvest, etc.). In certain embodiments, devices, systems, and methods are provided for delivering energy to difficult to access tissue regions (e.g. central or peripheral lung tissues), and/or reducing the amount of undesired heat given off during energy delivery.