Fluid-Cooled Microwave Ablation Probe for Spherical Heating Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microwave ablation probes often produce elongated or teardrop-shaped heating zones, causing unintended tissue damage and requiring larger profiles, while maintaining a small size and producing predictable spherical heating zones is desirable.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a cooling tube with varying diameters and a choke to limit backward current, combined with a low-profile shell and antenna configuration, ensuring a spherical heating zone and minimizing tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional microwave ablation probe design is used, then the probe can deliver RF energy to heat target tissue, but the heating zone becomes elongated or teardrop-shaped causing unintended tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling tube is designed with varying diameter along its length, creating different cooling effects at different locations. The larger diameter section is positioned at the proximal end to provide enhanced cooling where needed, while the smaller diameter section allows adequate cooling at the distal end. This non-uniform cooling distribution transforms the heating pattern from elongated/teardrop-shaped to a more spherical ablation zone, preventing unintended tissue damage.
2Volume of moving object
If the probe size is reduced to minimize damage to surrounding tissues, then the profile becomes smaller, but it becomes difficult to maintain a known and repeatable heating zone
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling tube diameter is changed along its length, with the proximal portion having a larger diameter and the distal portion having a smaller diameter. This parameter variation in the cooling system allows the probe to maintain a consistent, repeatable spherical heating zone pattern even while keeping the overall probe profile small. The differential cooling compensates for heat distribution variations, ensuring reliable and predictable ablation zones.
3Device complexity
If a uniform diameter cooling tube is used, then the structure is simpler, but the cooling effectiveness varies along the length causing non-spherical heating zones
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling tube is designed with varying diameter along its length, creating different cooling effects at different locations. The larger diameter section is positioned at the proximal end to provide enhanced cooling where needed, while the smaller diameter section allows adequate cooling at the distal end. This non-uniform cooling distribution transforms the heating pattern from elongated/teardrop-shaped to a more spherical ablation zone, preventing unintended tissue damage.
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 achieves repeatable, spherical heating zones with reduced tissue damage and a smaller probe diameter, enhancing treatment efficacy and safety.
Implementation Method 1
A microwave ablation antenna can be included in the probe and be used to deliver Radio Frequency (RF) energy such as microwave energy to a target tissue to heat the target tissue and destroy the target tissue
Implementation Method 2
thermal ablation can be used to destroy undesirable tissue such as malignant cells in a body
Implementation Method 3
a cooling tube positioned inside the shell and positioned radially outward of the cable
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 6~8
AI summary
A microwave ablation probe includes a cable extending in an axial direction and also includes an antenna configured to deliver Radio Frequency (RF) energy. The probe includes a shell positioned radially outward of the cable and a choke electrically coupled to an outer conductor of the cable. The probe also includes a cooling tube positioned inside the shell and positioned radially outward of the cable. The cooling tube including a first portion with a first outer diameter and a second portion with a second outer diameter. The second portion located radially outward of the choke and the second outer diameter being greater than the first outer diameter.