Microwave Tissue Welding System With Impedance Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for biological tissue welding, such as suturing and laser welding, are time-consuming, introduce foreign materials, and are prone to errors, making them unreliable and difficult to use in emergency situations, especially due to the complexity and bulkiness of cooling systems required for laser welding.
Innovation Solution
A microwave biological tissue welding system that applies a biological solder with a barrier layer and uses an antenna matched to the tissue impedance to transmit microwaves for welding, with adjustable power control and monitoring to ensure proper impedance matching and effective tissue joining.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If laser welding is used for tissue joining, then suture-less repair is achieved, but the cooling system becomes complex and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cooling system of laser welding with a microwave-based heating system. Instead of using lasers that require complex cooling apparatus, the invention uses microwave radiation to directly heat and weld tissue through dielectric heating, eliminating the need for mechanical cooling components and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental energy parameter from optical (laser) to electromagnetic microwave frequency. This parameter change allows tissue welding through controlled dielectric heating at microwave frequencies, which inherently does not require the complex cooling systems that laser systems need to manage thermal buildup in the laser source itself.
2Reliability
If conventional suturing is used for wound closure, then tissue joining is achieved, but foreign materials are introduced increasing infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical suturing (which requires foreign suture materials) with microwave-induced thermal welding. The microwave energy heats the tissue proteins directly to create a weld, eliminating the need for foreign suture materials and thereby reducing infection risk from introduced foreign bodies.
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue itself serves as the welding material through its natural protein structures. The microwave energy causes the tissue proteins to denature and fuse together, allowing the tissue to join itself without requiring external suture materials, thus eliminating foreign material introduction.
3Reliability
If conventional suturing is used for wound closure, then tissue joining is achieved, but the procedure becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming mechanical suturing operations with rapid microwave heating and welding. The microwave energy can be delivered continuously and rapidly heats tissue to welding temperatures, significantly reducing the time required for wound closure compared to the manual threading and tying of sutures.
Solution Approach 2:
The microwave energy delivery is continuous and can be maintained throughout the welding process without interruption. This continuous energy delivery allows for rapid and consistent tissue welding, eliminating the discrete, step-by-step nature of suturing that contributes to procedure time.
4Manufacturing precision
If laser welding is used for tissue joining, then precise welding is achieved, but the system requires extensive training and is difficult to use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces laser welding with microwave welding, which offers more forgiving and uniform energy distribution through tissue. Microwave radiation penetrates tissue more uniformly and heats through volume rather than surface, reducing the precision requirements for operator skill while maintaining consistent weld results.
Solution Approach 2:
The change from optical laser parameters to microwave frequency parameters fundamentally alters the interaction with tissue. Microwave heating is less sensitive to precise positioning and focusing errors, making the system more robust and easier to operate while still achieving uniform weld depths through controlled power delivery.
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 a reliable, repeatable, and efficient method for welding biological tissues, reducing the risk of infection and tissue damage, while restoring the original tensile strength of the tissue and being portable for emergency use.
Implementation Method 1
Microwaves from a signal generator can be transmitted through the antenna to weld two or more biological tissue pieces of the wound together
Implementation Method 2
A waveguide coupler connected between the power amplifier and the antenna can measure the forward (radiated) power and the reflected power from the antenna. This is a means to ensure the antenna and tissue are properly impedance matched
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for joining biological tissue together are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, a method for joining biological tissue together can include applying a biological solder on a wound. A barrier layer can be disposed on the biological solder. An antenna can be located in proximate spatial relationship to the barrier layer. An impedance of the antenna can be matched to an impedance of the wound. Microwaves from a signal generator can be transmitted through the antenna to weld two or more biological tissue pieces of the wound together. A power of the microwaves can be adjusted by a control circuit disposed between the antenna and the signal generator. The heating profile within the tissue may be adjusted and controlled by the placement of metallic microspheres in or around the wound.