Multi-Prong MIR Needle Assembly for Precise Tumor Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices lack sophistication for tailored locoregional therapies, with traditional needles causing undesired side effects and limitations in delivering therapeutic agents to target lesions, and existing MIR lasers face challenges in surgical applications due to bulkiness and transmission losses.
Innovation Solution
A multimodal therapy delivery system using a multi-prong needle assembly with MIR transparent fluoride fibers for simultaneous delivery of biochemical materials and laser energy, featuring a control system for precise energy distribution and a needle design with spiral channels for volumetric ablation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional needles are used for intralesional therapy delivery, then the device complexity is low and ease of manufacture is high, but the manufacturing precision and treatment control are insufficient leading to undesired side effects and limited targeting capability
Solution Approach 1:
The needle assembly is divided into multiple prongs (e.g., three-pronged design) with each prong capable of independent operation. This segmentation allows precise targeting of different regions within a lesion while maintaining control over therapeutic agent distribution, resolving the contradiction between treatment precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Each prong of the needle assembly can be independently controlled to deliver therapeutic agents to specific locations within the lesion. This local quality control enables precise targeting of tumor regions while sparing healthy tissue, achieving high manufacturing precision without requiring overly complex device architecture
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple injections are performed to follow different trajectories, then the coverage of the lesion is improved, but the harmful factors increase including pain, bleeding, and risk of tumor spread
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple needle prongs are merged into a single integrated assembly that can be inserted through one primary puncture site. This merging allows the device to cover multiple trajectories and regions within the lesion while minimizing the number of skin punctures, thereby reducing pain, bleeding, and tumor spread risk associated with multiple separate injections
3Power
If traditional UV or NIR lasers are used for tumor ablation, then the energy delivery capability is sufficient, but the device complexity increases due to bulkiness and safety containment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The laser source is extracted from the bulky traditional laser system and integrated directly into the needle assembly tip. This extraction eliminates the need for large separate laser generators and safety containments, enabling efficient energy delivery while dramatically reducing device complexity and improving ease of operation
4Ease of operation
If optical fibers are used to bring light from MIR lasers to surgical bed, then the freedom of motion is improved, but the loss of energy increases due to bending and transmission losses
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber is nested within the protective sheath of the needle assembly, allowing the fiber to bend and follow the needle's trajectory while maintaining structural integrity. This nesting configuration minimizes bending losses and protects the fiber during insertion, enabling freedom of motion while reducing energy transmission losses
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 precise, minimally invasive therapy delivery with reduced side effects, allowing for effective tumor targeting and volumetric ablation with enhanced control over treatment distribution.
Implementation Method 1
Lasers operating in the mid-infrared (MIR) waveband (λ0=3-13 μm) can overcome many of these problems. MIR lasers can also selectively ablate tumor tissue with respect to healthy tissue
Implementation Method 2
at least one mid-infrared (MIR) laser... deliver energy from the at least one MIR laser through the at least one MIR transparent fluoride fiber
Implementation Method 3
at least one MIR transparent fluoride fiber coupled to each of the at least one MIR laser... deliver energy from the at least one MIR laser through the at least one MIR transparent fluoride fiber
Implementation Method 4
The needle assembly may include a metallic structure such as stainless steel having a plurality of channels... delivering at least one biochemical material to a plurality of different channels of the needle assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A multimodal therapy delivery system configured to deliver both biochemical material and energy therapies, the multimodal therapy delivery system includes at least one mid-infrared (MIR) laser, at least one MIR transparent fluoride fiber coupled to each of the at least one MIR laser, and a needle assembly with the at least one MIR transparent fluoride fiber threaded therethrough. The multimodal therapy delivery system is configured to deliver biochemical material through the needle assembly and wherein the multimodal therapy delivery system is further configured to deliver energy from the at least one MIR laser through the at least one MIR transparent fluoride fiber threaded through the needle assembly.