Side-fire laser standoff catheter for tissue vaporization and coagulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side-firing laser systems for surgical procedures face issues with fiber degradation due to debris accumulation and require frequent cleaning or replacement, leading to high costs and extended treatment times, especially for procedures involving large glands, as they lack a practical solution for preventing contact between the laser fiber and tissue.
Innovation Solution
A standoff catheter system that prevents contact between the laser fiber and tissue by using a removable and replaceable outer tube, allowing for continuous fluid flow and enabling the same laser system to switch between tissue vaporization and coagulation by substituting heavy water for conventional water, thereby extending the fiber's lifespan and improving treatment outcomes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the laser fiber is positioned in close proximity to the tissue to enhance treatment effectiveness, then treatment efficacy is improved, but fiber degradation increases due to contact with debris and tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a standoff catheter as an intermediary component between the laser fiber and the tissue. This catheter maintains a controlled distance (standoff distance) that prevents direct contact between the fiber and tissue/debris, thereby protecting the fiber from degradation while still allowing effective treatment through the catheter's transparent or translucent material.
Solution Approach 2:
The standoff catheter is designed as a disposable component that can be easily replaced if degraded. This approach trades the high cost and complexity of protecting the expensive laser fiber with a lower-cost, replaceable catheter that protects the fiber while being discarded after use, eliminating the need for complex fiber protection systems.
2Reliability
If the laser fiber is protected from tissue contact to prevent degradation, then fiber lifespan is extended, but treatment effectiveness may be reduced due to increased distance from tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The standoff catheter serves as a mediator that transmits laser energy from the fiber to the tissue while maintaining a protective distance. The catheter's material properties (transparent/translucent) allow optical energy transmission, so the fiber remains protected from direct tissue contact while still achieving effective treatment outcomes through the catheter wall.
3Reliability
If conventional water-based irrigation fluid is used to cool the fiber and flush debris, then fiber protection is achieved, but the ability to switch between vaporization and coagulation modes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the property that heavy water (deuterium oxide) has different optical absorption characteristics compared to conventional water. By changing the chemical composition parameter of the irrigation fluid from H2O to D2O, the system can switch between vaporization mode (H2O) and coagulation mode (D2O), enabling a single laser system to perform multiple treatment functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser system is designed to be universal by accepting both conventional water and heavy water as irrigation fluids through the same catheter system. This allows the same physical apparatus to perform multiple functions: tissue vaporization with water and tissue coagulation with heavy water, eliminating the need for separate systems for different treatment modes.
4Reliability
If permanently affixed caps are used to protect the fiber, then fiber protection is achieved, but cleaning and replacement frequency increases due to debris accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The standoff catheter is designed as a disposable component that replaces the need for cleaning and maintaining permanently affixed caps. After use, the entire catheter assembly (including the protective function) is discarded and replaced with a new one, eliminating the time-consuming cleaning process and ensuring consistently clean surfaces without intermediate maintenance steps.
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 standoff catheter system effectively prevents fiber degradation, allows for extended use without frequent cleaning or replacement, and enables seamless switching between vaporization and coagulation modes, reducing treatment time and costs while enhancing patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
A side-firing laser system is used with a standoff catheter to prevent contact between the laser fiber output surface and the tissue
Implementation Method 2
The standoff catheter includes a passage for insertion of the fiber, and through which irrigation fluid is caused to flow
Implementation Method 3
by substituting heavy water or a heavy water based mixture for a conventional water-based solution when coagulation is required
Data Source
AI summary
A side-firing laser system with a standoff catheter includes an optical fiber configured to emit therapeutic laser radiation in a direction generally transverse to an axis of the fiber; and a catheter through which the optical fiber is inserted during a surgical procedure. The catheter includes a transparent end section through which the therapeutic laser radiation passes to vaporize tissue outside the catheter, an open distal end to permit exit of irrigation fluid from the catheter, and an opening in a side of the end section, the opening having dimensions that are approximately equal to or less than cross-sectional dimensions of the therapeutic laser radiation. When the fiber is moved to a position at which the therapeutic laser radiation passes through the opening, the laser radiation causes coagulation or vaporization of tissues.