Plasma Probe With Oblique Outlet Window For Tissue Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plasma probes face challenges in bringing the plasma outlet close to the tissue for effective treatment, particularly in flexible designs required for treating protruding lesions, which can be difficult to achieve and may cause tissue damage due to high power usage.
Innovation Solution
A plasma probe with a flexible tube and a rigid, tapered head piece that minimizes the distance between the electrode and the tissue, featuring lateral plasma outlet windows oriented obliquely to the longitudinal direction, allowing precise targeting and reduced power usage for treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the plasma outlet opening is brought close to the tissue to be treated, then the treatment precision is improved, but the flexibility of the probe is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The probe is divided into two distinct segments: a flexible hose for navigation and a rigid headpiece for precise treatment. The headpiece contains the plasma outlet opening in its tapered end region, separating the flexibility function from the precision function.
Solution Approach 2:
The plasma outlet opening is positioned in the tapered end region of the headpiece, extending into the distal direction. This spatial arrangement allows the outlet to be brought close to the tissue in the longitudinal dimension while the flexible hose provides adaptability in other dimensions.
2Productivity
If high power is used for plasma treatment, then the treatment effectiveness is improved, but the tissue damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The headpiece has a tapered end region that concentrates the plasma energy locally at the plasma outlet opening. This allows effective treatment with reduced overall power, minimizing collateral tissue damage while maintaining treatment effectiveness at the target site.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the probe is made flexible to treat protruding lesions, then the adaptability is improved, but the design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The probe design separates the flexible hose from the rigid headpiece, allowing each component to be optimized independently. The flexible hose provides adaptability for navigating body cavities and treating protruding lesions, while the rigid headpiece maintains structural simplicity with its tapered geometry and integrated plasma outlet.
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 and gentle treatment of tissue lesions with minimal tissue damage by maintaining a small distance between the electrode and the tissue, suitable for use in narrow vessels and flexible applications.
Implementation Method 1
Gas ionized by the electrode and flowing through the hose forms a plasma stream which exits from the plasma exit window laterally to the longitudinal direction of the plasma probe
Implementation Method 2
An electrode which can be connected to an RF generator via an electrical conductor and supplied with a suitable RF voltage by the generator also extends into the headpiece
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~9
AI summary
A flexible plasma probe has a headpiece (12) with at least one plasma outlet window (25) which is arranged neither radially nor axially, but in the tapered end region (18) of the headpiece with an opening direction (0) oriented obliquely to the longitudinal central axis (L). Such a plasma probe (10) facilitates and improves the treatment of biological tissue, in particular lesions (11) in body lumina, due to the greater proximity achievable between the electrode (20) and the lesion (11).