Robotic Catheter with Steerable Tip and Temperature Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for airway hypersecretion and chronic bronchitis often have severe side effects and are not specific, leading to low patient compliance, and existing interventions for occluded airways are either invasive or time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A robotic therapeutic catheter system with a steerable tip, video imager, and temperature controller for precise delivery of metered cryospray or other ablative energies, guided by 3D treatment planning and augmented reality for optimal dosing and minimization of procedure time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional treatments (corticosteroids, anticholinergics, antibiotics) are used for airway hypersecretion and chronic bronchitis, then some therapeutic effect is achieved, but severe side effects occur and patient compliance is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful side effects associated with conventional systemic medications by replacing them with localized energy delivery therapy. The robotic catheter system delivers energy directly to the affected airway segments, eliminating the need for systemic corticosteroids, anticholinergics, and antibiotics that cause severe side effects, thereby improving patient compliance while maintaining treatment efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by delivering energy therapy directly to specific affected airway segments rather than using systemic medications. The robotic catheter system targets precise locations within the bronchial tree, providing localized treatment that affects only the pathological tissue without exposing the entire body to medication side effects, thus resolving the contradiction between efficacy and harmful factors.
2Reliability
If existing interventions for occluded airways are performed, then airway obstruction is addressed, but the procedures are either invasive or time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces invasive mechanical interventions with a less invasive energy delivery system. Instead of using mechanical debulking, stents, or surgical procedures that are time-consuming and invasive, the robotic catheter system delivers energy (such as radiofrequency, microwave, or ultrasonic energy) to ablate or reduce obstructive tissue, significantly reducing procedure time and invasiveness while maintaining airway clearance efficacy.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise energy delivery to airway segments is achieved, then treatment efficacy is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a robotic catheter system that can deliver multiple types of energy (radiofrequency, microwave, ultrasonic, cryoenergy) through a single integrated platform. This multi-functional approach allows precise energy delivery to various airway segments without requiring separate specialized devices for each energy type, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining high treatment precision and efficacy.
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 robotic system enables precise and efficient delivery of energy to airway segments, reducing procedure time, improving patient safety, and enhancing treatment efficacy with minimal scarring, thus addressing the limitations of existing treatments.
Implementation Method 1
A robotic system for delivering metered energy to an airway... delivering metered cryospray or other ablative energies
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments pertain to a therapeutic catheter for treating airway disorders. The catheter may include a video imager, steerable tip, and a lens temperature controller. The catheter may be remotely and/or robotically steerable based on a treatment plan developed with reference to a two- or three-dimensional map of the treatment area. Instead of individual discrete doses, regions of the treatment area may be treated in a continuous fashion by moving the catheter as a dose is applied. The catheter may be dynamically positioned at target locations in the lumen based on the treatment plan.