RF Probe for Hollow Anatomical Structure Coagulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating incompetent perforator veins are invasive, require significant surgical time, and often necessitate multiple incisions, leading to trauma, prolonged recovery, and increased morbidity and complication rates.
Innovation Solution
A minimally invasive approach using energy-delivering probes with bipolar or monopolar electrodes to coagulate or constrict hollow anatomical structures by applying RF energy, reducing the vein's lumen size through endothelial denudation, edema, and collagen contraction, or direct fusion of the vein walls, allowing for treatment with minimal incisions and reduced recovery time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional surgical procedures (Linton or DePalma) are used to ligate and cut incompetent perforator veins, then the veins are effectively interrupted to treat varicose veins and edema, but the procedures require long incisions, significant surgical time, and multiple surgeons leading to patient trauma and prolonged recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical ligation and cutting with RF electrical energy delivery. The RF electrode delivers energy through the vein wall to cause thermal coagulation and constriction, eliminating the need for mechanical sutures, clips, or cutting instruments. This substitution reduces surgical complexity while maintaining effective vein interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of vein tissue through controlled thermal parameters. RF energy heating causes protein denaturation, collagen contraction, and tissue coagulation at specific temperature ranges (60-100°C), transforming the vein from a patent state to a constricted/occluded state without mechanical intervention.
2Reliability
If individual perforator veins are surgically dissected and ligated as in traditional procedures, then the veins are effectively treated, but the procedures are traumatic to the patient and require significant surgical time
Solution Approach 1:
The RF delivery system eliminates time-consuming mechanical dissection and ligation steps. The electrode can be positioned percutaneously or through minimal access, and RF energy is delivered rapidly (seconds to minutes per site) compared to traditional surgical techniques requiring extensive dissection, ligation, and hemostasis control.
Solution Approach 2:
The RF procedure skips multiple intermediate surgical steps (dissection, isolation, ligation, hemostasis) and proceeds directly to vein occlusion through energy delivery. This 'skipping' of procedural steps dramatically reduces surgical time while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
3Reliability
If traditional ligation and cutting procedures are performed, then incompetent perforator veins are interrupted, but the procedures require multiple incisions and lead to increased morbidity and complication rates
Solution Approach 1:
Replacing mechanical cutting and ligation with RF thermal energy eliminates incisions, sutures, and associated trauma. The RF electrode can be introduced percutaneously or through minimal access, causing coagulation and constriction without mechanical tissue disruption, thereby reducing bleeding, infection risk, and recovery time.
Solution Approach 2:
Controlled thermal parameters (temperature, power, duration) enable precise vein occlusion with minimal damage to surrounding tissues. The RF energy is confined to the vein wall and immediate surrounding tissue, creating a controlled thermal zone that occludes the target vein while sparing adjacent structures from trauma.
4Reliability
If RF energy is applied to coagulate and constrict the hollow anatomical structure, then fluid flow through the structure is reduced or stopped, but the procedure requires precise energy delivery to achieve desired constriction
Solution Approach 1:
The RF delivery system incorporates impedance sensing and temperature monitoring to provide real-time feedback on tissue conditions. The system automatically adjusts power delivery based on tissue impedance changes and temperature measurements, ensuring precise and safe energy delivery without requiring manual calibration or excessive operator skill.
Solution Approach 2:
The RF electrode and control system automatically regulate energy delivery based on real-time tissue response. The system self-adjusts power levels, pulse durations, and delivery patterns according to measured impedance and temperature, eliminating the need for manual precision adjustment by the operator and reducing the skill barrier for precise energy delivery.
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 method effectively reduces fluid flow through the veins, treats varicose veins and other conditions with fewer complications, requiring only a single surgeon and minimal post-operative healing time, while being adaptable for various hollow anatomical structures and tissues.
Implementation Method 1
delivering RF energy through the bipolar electrode probe to a hollow anatomical structure (HAS) to constrict the structure
Implementation Method 2
constriction will result from endothelial denudation, a combination of edema and swelling associated with cellular thermal injury, and denaturation and contraction of the collagenous tissues
Implementation Method 3
thermally coagulating and/or constricting hollow anatomical structures
Data Source
AI summary
An energy delivering probe is used for thermally coagulating and/or constricting hollow anatomical structures (HAS) including, but not limited to, blood vessels such as perforator veins. The probe includes a shaft and at least two electrodes where at least one of the electrodes has a perimeter that increases as it extends proximally.