RF Generator Segmentation for Airway Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing minimally invasive ablation techniques for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) face challenges such as unmonitored electrode attachment conditions, sudden temperature rises due to uncontrolled radio frequency energy, and difficulty in adapting to patient movements and breathing, leading to potential tissue damage and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A radio frequency generator with a multi-electrode ablation device that employs a closed-loop control system using segmentation control and temperature dynamic smoothening to precisely regulate energy delivery, monitor temperature and impedance, and prevent repeated ablation, ensuring safe and effective treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If great radio frequency energy is applied at the start of ablation, then ablation effectiveness is improved, but temperature uprush increases causing safety threats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using a segmentation control algorithm that divides ablation into multiple stages with different power levels. The ablation process is divided into initial stage, middle stage, and late stage, with power delivered in controlled pulses rather than continuously at high intensity, preventing temperature uprush while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics through temperature dynamic smoothening that continuously adjusts radio frequency power based on real-time temperature feedback. The system dynamically modifies power delivery to maintain stable temperature between 50-70°C, adapting to changing thermal conditions to prevent both insufficient ablation and dangerous temperature spikes.
2Device complexity
If general proportional integral control algorithm is used, then control simplicity is maintained, but oscillation and overshoot occur due to frequent disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback principle by implementing a closed-loop control system with real-time temperature monitoring. Temperature sensors continuously measure tissue temperature and feed this information back to the control algorithm, which adjusts power delivery accordingly. This feedback mechanism eliminates oscillation and overshoot by responding to actual thermal conditions rather than relying on predetermined control parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses segmentation by dividing the ablation process into distinct stages (initial, middle, late) with different control strategies for each phase. The segmentation control algorithm applies different power delivery patterns and temperature targets for each stage, improving stability by addressing the specific thermal dynamics of each ablation phase rather than using a single uniform control approach.
3Productivity
If repeated ablation is performed without temperature monitoring, then treatment completeness is improved, but permanent tissue damage and airway fistula risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing temperature detection before each ablation cycle and establishing protection mechanisms in advance. The system checks tissue temperature prior to initiating ablation and prevents treatment if temperature exceeds safe thresholds, ensuring that repeated ablation does not cause cumulative thermal damage while still achieving complete treatment.
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 system ensures precise control over ablation temperatures, reduces the risk of tissue damage, and maintains effective energy delivery despite patient movements, thereby enhancing the safety and efficacy of bronchial radio frequency ablation.
Implementation Method 1
By moving the catheter, energy is gradually transmitted to multiple parts of the trachea to remove the pathologicallyhyperplastic airway smooth muscles
Implementation Method 2
a radio frequency generator for ablation and a multi-electrode ablation device for transmitting energy in the trachea and bronchus
Data Source
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AI summary
A radio frequency generator for ablation, configured to deliver a direct current, an alternating current, and a radio frequency energy to a lesion for treating a pulmonary disease. The radio frequency generator for ablation can determine the ablation effectiveness according to one or more of a falling value of impedance, a change rate of impedance, the change in the change rate of impedance, or the change of impedance from falling to rising. According to the radio frequency generator for ablation, a segmentation control method and dynamic smoothing are used for adjusting a radio frequency output power to control an ablation temperature, and a tissue to be ablated is avoided being quickly heated in short time to ensure the smooth change in the radio frequency output power in the ablation process. The radio frequency generator for ablation further comprises a specific protection mechanism for preventing repeating ablation. A temperature of a site to be ablated is detected before each ablation is applied. If the temperature of the site to be ablated is higher than 40°C to 60°C, ablation is not started. Also disclosed is a multi-electrode ablation device including the radio frequency generator for ablation.