Multitube Esophageal Brachytherapy Catheter Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brachytherapy catheters are limited in delivering sufficient radiation to tumors and can be difficult to navigate and position accurately within the esophagus or other tissues.
Innovation Solution
A brachytherapy delivery system featuring a catheter with a sheath and multiple tubes that can be configured to guide radiation exposure to a target tissue, including a tapered portion for navigation and plugs to control radiation delivery, allowing for increased radiation dosage and improved positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single catheter is used to deliver radiation to the tumor, then the device is simple to insert, but the radiation dosage delivered to the tumor is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple separate radiation-delivering tubes (first tube, second tube, etc.) that can be individually positioned and controlled. Each tube can deliver radiation independently, allowing the total radiation dosage to be increased by activating multiple tubes simultaneously while maintaining relative structural simplicity through modular design
2Measurement precision
If a catheter is made rigid to maintain positioning accuracy, then the positioning precision is improved, but the catheter becomes difficult to navigate through the esophagus
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates a balanced design where the proximal portion maintains sufficient rigidity for stable positioning and accurate radiation delivery, while the distal portion remains flexible to navigate the esophagus. The ability to selectively inflate balloons or activate segments allows dynamic adjustment of catheter stiffness to match different navigation and positioning requirements
3Ease of operation
If the catheter is made flexible to navigate the esophagus easily, then the ease of operation is improved, but the positioning accuracy adjacent to the tumor is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is segmented into distinct functional zones: a flexible distal portion for navigation and a more rigid proximal portion for stable positioning. Multiple independently controllable tubes allow selective positioning of radiation sources adjacent to the tumor while maintaining overall catheter flexibility for insertion
4Quantity of substance
If multiple tubes are used to deliver increased radiation, then the radiation dosage is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of positioning are increased
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple tubes share common control mechanisms, such as a single radiation source that can be positioned in different tubes, unified positioning systems, and coordinated control. This allows the system to deliver increased radiation through multiple tubes while avoiding proportional increases in overall device complexity through shared functional components
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for delivery of radiation to a target portion of a native tissue is provided. The system includes a catheter having a main catheter body. The main catheter body includes an outer catheter surface and an inner catheter surface that defines a longitudinally oriented lumen. The lumen extends between longitudinally spaced proximal and distal catheter face surfaces extending laterally between the inner and outer catheter surfaces. A sheath covers at least a portion of the outer catheter surface. The sheath includes a tapered portion protruding substantially longitudinally distally from a portion of the distal catheter face surface. A plurality of tubes extends through the lumen towards the distal catheter face surface. Each tube of the plurality of tubes is configured to selectively guide exposure of a radiation source to the target portion of the native tissue.