Plasma-generating device with nested coolant channel for laparoscopic surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plasma surgical devices lack precision and accuracy in treating small areas due to their large dimensions and inefficient heat management, which limits their effectiveness in laparoscopic surgery and other applications requiring high temperature control.
Innovation Solution
A plasma-generating device with an anode, cathode, and intermediate electrodes, featuring a coolant channel that directs coolant to screen and restrict the plasma jet, allowing for precise heat application and reduced device dimensions by minimizing pressure drops and flow channel size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the plasma-generating device is made with small dimensions for laparoscopic surgery, then accessibility and accuracy are improved, but heat management and plasma control become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant channel is nested within the plasma-generating device structure, with the coolant flowing through channels that are integrated into the device body. The outlet opening of the coolant channel is positioned beyond the intermediate electrode and aligned with the plasma channel opening, allowing compact integration while maintaining functional separation between plasma generation and cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
A coolant is introduced as an intermediary substance to mediate between the high-temperature plasma and the surrounding tissue. The coolant flows through the coolant channel and exits via the outlet opening to screen and restrict the plasma jet, providing thermal management without requiring complex active cooling systems.
2Temperature
If the plasma jet is allowed to propagate freely, then high temperature treatment is achieved, but heat exposure to surrounding areas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant is positioned to flow out through the outlet opening in advance to counteract the plasma jet before it can spread to surrounding areas. The coolant channel outlet is arranged beyond the intermediate electrode, creating a preliminary barrier that screens and restricts the plasma jet propagation, preventing excessive heat exposure to adjacent tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant, which could be considered a cooling agent that might reduce plasma effectiveness, is instead used to beneficially screen and restrict the plasma jet. By positioning the coolant outlet to face the plasma channel opening, the coolant flow directs and confines the plasma jet, improving precision while the high temperature plasma still achieves effective treatment at the target site.
3Volume of stationary object
If the coolant channel is designed to minimize pressure drops, then flow channel size is reduced, but device compactness is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant channel outlet is positioned in a different spatial dimension relative to the plasma channel - specifically, the outlet opening is arranged beyond the intermediate electrode in the direction from cathode to anode, with its channel direction having a directional component that aligns with the plasma channel direction. This spatial arrangement allows compact integration while maintaining effective plasma jet screening.
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 device achieves improved accuracy and reduced heat exposure in small areas, enabling effective treatment while maintaining compact dimensions suitable for space-limited surgical applications, such as laparoscopic surgery.
Implementation Method 1
plasma-generating device, comprising an anode, a cathode and at least one intermediate electrode... a gas plasma is present, the high temperature of which allows treatment of the tissue
Implementation Method 2
plasma-generating system with an anode, a cathode... electrodes which are arranged between said cathode and anode
Implementation Method 3
a coolant, which is adapted to flow in the coolant channel, is allowed to flow out... to cool an object affected by the plasma jet
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a plasma-generating device, comprising an anode, a cathode and at least one intermediate electrode, said intermediate electrode being arranged at least partly between said anode and said cathode, and said intermediate electrode and said anode forming at least a part of a plasma channel which has an opening in said anode. Further, the plasma-generating device comprises at least one coolant channel which is arranged with at least one outlet opening which is positioned beyond, in the direction from the cathode to the anode, said at least one intermediate electrode, and the channel direction of said coolant channel at said outlet opening has a directional component which is the same as that of the channel direction of the plasma channel at the opening thereof. The invention also concerns a plasma surgical device and use of such a plasma surgical device.