Microwave Generator Resistive Identification Digital Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microwave generators lack digital circuitry for advanced control, making it cumbersome to upgrade or adjust operations for compatibility with new microwave surgical instruments, leading to unpredictable ablation zones due to changing tissue electrical properties and impedance mismatch.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system with a microwave generator featuring a resistive identification connector and a digital controller that adjusts operations based on information from a device identifier, allowing for real-time control of microwave applicators and impedance matching through dielectric buffering, enabling precise ablation zone control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If microwave generators use traditional analog control without digital circuitry, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to new surgical instruments and control precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A digital controller is introduced as an intermediary device that connects to the microwave generator via a cable with resistive identification connectors. The digital controller handles all digital processing and communication with surgical instruments, while the microwave generator itself remains relatively simple. This mediator approach allows the system to gain adaptability and digital control capabilities without significantly increasing the complexity of the core microwave generation component.
2Reliability
If tissue electrical properties change during ablation, then ablation zone predictability deteriorates, but impedance matching can be maintained through digital control
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates real-time feedback through a radiometry detector that monitors tissue emissions and a resistive identification connector that detects impedance changes. The digital controller continuously receives this feedback information and automatically adjusts microwave generator operations to maintain optimal impedance matching. This closed-loop feedback system ensures predictable ablation zones despite changing tissue properties during the procedure.
3Volume of stationary object
If microwave energy is delivered to create large ablation zones, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but impedance mismatch and wavelength elongation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts microwave generator operations in real-time based on detected tissue properties and impedance conditions. Rather than using fixed power levels, the digital controller continuously modifies delivery parameters to maintain optimal impedance matching even as large ablation zones are created. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to deliver high energy for large ablation volumes while maintaining stable impedance match and preventing wavelength elongation.
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 system provides predictable and robust ablation zones by maintaining impedance match and field shape, allowing for larger active zones with predetermined shapes, enhancing energy delivery and reducing wavelength elongation, thus improving procedural reliability and energy focus on targeted tissues.
Implementation Method 1
in the case of microwave ablation, by dielectric relaxation of water molecules within an applied electromagnetic field
Implementation Method 2
The device identifier of the microwave applicator is relayed to the digital controller via a resistive channel of the plurality of resistive channels of the resistive identification connector
Implementation Method 3
A radiometry detector is connected between the microwave generator and the reusable cable. The radiometry detector, in use, senses emissions from tissue in proximity of the microwave applicator
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical system is presented including a microwave generator having a resistive identification connector with a plurality of resistive channels, each resistive channel having a plurality of resistive values. The surgical system further includes a microwave applicator having a device identifier, the microwave applicator configured to be connected to the microwave generator via a reusable cable. The surgical system also includes a digital controller configured to be connected to the resistive identification connector of the microwave generator. The device identifier of the microwave applicator is relayed to the digital controller via a resistive channel of the plurality of resistive channels of the resistive identification connector to enable the digital controller to control the microwave applicator by adjusting at least one operation of the microwave generator. The microwave generator further includes at least one digital pass-through line to allow direct communication between the microwave applicator and the digital controller.