Plasma-Coupled RF Tissue Ablation for Uniform Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiofrequency ablation technologies for treating internal tissue surfaces face challenges such as slow treatment times, incomplete treatments, non-uniform ablation depths, and risk of injury to adjacent organs.
Innovation Solution
The method involves delivering radiofrequency current through a series of dielectric media, including an ionized electrically non-conductive gas and a thin dielectric wall, to capacitively couple the current to tissue, ensuring uniform ablation depth and minimizing damage to adjacent organs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional solid electrodes or balloon electrodes are used for radiofrequency ablation, then the treatment can be performed, but the treatment time is relatively slow and the ablation depth is non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an electrically non-conductive gas (such as sulfur hexafluoride) as an intermediary medium between the electrode and the tissue. The gas is ionized to form a plasma that capacitively couples to the tissue through a thin dielectric layer, enabling more uniform and rapid energy transfer compared to direct contact electrodes. This intermediary plasma-gas system resolves the contradiction by providing both speed and uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the medium from solid (traditional electrodes) to ionized gas (plasma). By ionizing the electrically non-conductive gas and controlling its parameters (density, temperature, electric field strength), the system achieves rapid and uniform capacitive coupling to the tissue, simultaneously improving treatment speed and ablation depth uniformity.
2Productivity
If higher power radiofrequency energy is delivered to increase ablation speed, then treatment time is reduced, but the risk of injury to adjacent organs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a localized plasma region with controlled properties between the electrode and tissue. The ionized gas is confined to a specific zone, allowing high power delivery only where needed. The thin dielectric layer further localizes the energy transfer, concentrating the ablation effect on the target tissue while protecting adjacent organs from excessive energy exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrically non-conductive gas and thin dielectric layer serve as intermediaries that control and limit energy transfer. This intermediary system allows high power delivery to the target tissue while preventing uncontrolled energy propagation to adjacent organs, thus resolving the contradiction between treatment speed and safety.
3Device complexity
If traditional electrode designs are used, then the structure is simple, but the ablation coverage is incomplete and treatment is non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The introduction of ionized gas as an intermediary creates a more complex but effective energy transfer mechanism. The plasma fills the space between the electrode and tissue, ensuring complete and uniform coverage. This intermediary system transforms the simple electrode structure into a more sophisticated plasma-mediated ablation system that achieves complete and uniform treatment coverage.
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
This approach enables rapid, uniform, and controlled ablation of tissue with reduced risk to adjacent organs by using a thin dielectric wall and ionized gas plasma for capacitive coupling.
Implementation Method 1
The gas will typically be ionized by application of a high voltage radiofrequency voltage
Implementation Method 2
the second dielectric allows current flow to the tissue via capacitive coupling
Implementation Method 3
delivering a radiofrequency current to the tissue in order to heat and usually ablate the tissue
Data Source
AI summary
Tissue is treated using a radiofrequency power supply connected to an applicator having a chamber filled with an electrically non-conductive gas surrounded by a thin dielectric wall. A radiofrequency voltage is applied at a level sufficient to ionize the gas into a plasma and to capacitively couple the ionized plasma with the tissue to deliver radiofrequency current to ablate or otherwise treat the tissue.