Pulsed Laser Tissue Selective Ablation via Spinodal Decomposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical tools often cause thermal or mechanical damage to adjacent tissues during tissue removal, and existing methods struggle to selectively remove target tissues without harming nearby nerves, vessels, or other tissue types, leading to adverse clinical outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A laser surgery system that uses pulsed laser beams to selectively remove target tissues by inducing spinodal decomposition, allowing for precise cutting with minimal damage to adjacent tissues by setting laser parameters above the ablation threshold for the target tissue but below the threshold for adjacent tissues, utilizing the differences in ablation thresholds between tissue types to prevent removal of non-target tissues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical instruments such as scalpels, biters and curettes are used to cut tissue, then tissue removal can be achieved, but mechanical trauma is induced to the tissue and cutting precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cutting instruments (scalpels, biters, curettes) with an optical system using pulsed laser beams to remove tissue. The laser system delivers energy that selectively ablates target tissue through optical absorption and thermal effects, eliminating mechanical contact and associated trauma while maintaining precise control over the cutting process
2Productivity
If energy delivery based devices such as radio frequency, ultrasonic, and lasers are used for tissue removal, then tissue cutting can be achieved, but thermal damage is caused to adjacent tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic pulsed laser delivery rather than continuous energy application. The pulsed regimen allows thermal diffusion to occur during intervals between pulses, preventing heat accumulation in adjacent tissues while maintaining effective ablation of target tissue during each pulse. This temporal modulation resolves the contradiction between cutting effectiveness and thermal protection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves selective tissue removal by exploiting differences in optical absorption properties between tissue types. The laser parameters (wavelength, fluence, pulse duration) are optimized to exceed the ablation threshold of target tissue while remaining below the threshold for adjacent tissues, creating localized effect confined to the target area without thermal spread to surrounding structures
3Productivity
If conventional laser parameters are used for tissue ablation, then target tissue can be removed, but non-target tissue types are also ablated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically optimizes laser parameters including wavelength selection based on tissue absorption coefficients, pulse duration tailored to thermal relaxation times of target tissue, and fluence levels positioned between ablation thresholds of different tissue types. These parameter adjustments enable selective photothermal ablation of target tissue while preserving adjacent non-target tissues with different optical and thermal properties
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 fast and efficient tissue removal with minimal thermal or mechanical damage, allowing for precise localization and preservation of critical structures like nerves and vessels, improving surgical safety and outcomes by selectively removing target tissues while protecting adjacent tissues.
Implementation Method 1
A method is provided that includes inducing spinodal decomposition to cause removal of a target volume of material
Implementation Method 2
A laser surgery system is described which produces a pulsed laser beam configured to cause removal of certain tissue types while simultaneously not causing removal of other tissue types
Data Source
AI summary
A laser can produce pulses of light energy for tissue-type selective ejection of a volume of the target tissue, and the energy can be delivered to a treatment site through a waveguide, such as a fiber optic waveguide. The incident laser energy can be absorbed within a volume of the target tissue with a tissue penetration depth and pulse direction such that the propagation of the energy from the tissue volume is inhibited and such that the target tissue within the volume reaches the spinodal threshold of decomposition and ejects the volume, for example without substantial damage to tissue adjacent the ejected volume. The pulses are set to be tissue selective.