Switchable RF Electrode Sets for Wide-Area Uniform Tissue Heating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high-frequency treatment methods require multiple electrode replacements to heat a wide area, which is inefficient and labor-intensive, and bipolar devices heat surrounding areas unevenly, necessitating multiple treatments.
Innovation Solution
A high-frequency treatment apparatus with multiple electrodes and output units, a switching unit, and a control unit to alternate connection states between electrode sets, allowing efficient heating of a wide area by alternating current flow patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple electrode replacements are performed to heat a wide area, then the heated area increases, but the treatment time and labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple electrodes into a single electrode plate with multiple electrode sets arranged in a matrix pattern. This allows simultaneous activation of multiple electrodes to heat a wide area without requiring sequential electrode replacements, thereby resolving the contradiction between heated area and treatment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic switching between different connection states of electrode sets through a switching unit. This allows the system to flexibly reconfigure which electrodes are active and how they are connected, enabling efficient coverage of wide areas while minimizing treatment time through optimized current distribution patterns.
2Area of stationary object
If bipolar device heats surrounding area, then wider area is heated, but heating becomes uneven requiring multiple treatments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrode plate into multiple electrode sets with specific arrangements (e.g., two rows with alternating polarity). This segmentation allows independent control and optimization of current flow patterns in different regions, achieving uniform heating across the entire wide area while avoiding the uneven heating problem of conventional bipolar devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent assigns different polarities to different electrode sets (first polarity and second polarity) and controls their switching independently. This creates locally optimized heating patterns that collectively achieve uniform overall heating, resolving the contradiction between wide area coverage and heating uniformity.
3Area of stationary object
If monopolar device uses one electrode, then device complexity is low, but heated area is narrow requiring multiple treatments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal electrode plate that can function in multiple modes (monopolar, bipolar, and intermediate modes) through different switching configurations. This multi-functional design allows the single electrode plate to replace multiple specialized electrodes, achieving wide area heating without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 apparatus efficiently heats a wide area with reduced unevenness and labor, enabling comprehensive heating without the need for multiple electrode replacements.
Implementation Method 1
radiofrequency current is applied from these electrodes to ablate tissues
Implementation Method 2
a part of nerve tissue is heated at a temperature of about 80° C for several minutes by radiofrequency current flowing from an electrode
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
[Problem] To provide a high-frequency treatment apparatus and a high-frequency treatment method capable of efficiently heating a wide region. [Solution] A high-frequency treatment apparatus comprises : a plurality of high-frequency output units 40 that output high-frequency power; a plurality of electrodes 20 that are connected to the high-frequency output units 40 and are positioned on an object to be treated; a switching unit 90 that is provided between the high-frequency output units 40 and the electrodes 20, and switches the flow of a high-frequency current to either an electrode set 200 or an electrode set 210, the electrode sets 200, 210 each including a combination of at least two electrodes 20; and a control unit that controls the switching unit 90 so as to periodically switch between a first connection state Sq1 in which different electrode sets 200 are connected to the respective high-frequency output units 40 during the treatment and a second connection state Sq2 in which an electrode set 210 obtained by combining the plurality of electrode sets 200 in the first connection state Sq1 is connected to one high-frequency output unit 40.