Single Cooling Loop for Tissue Treatment System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tissue treatment systems require separate coolant systems for both the light source and the tissue, resulting in bulky umbilical cables and increased material and assembly costs due to the need for four coolant lines.
Innovation Solution
A tissue treatment system utilizing a single cooling fluid circulation loop with two fluid passages, one for delivering cooling fluid to both the tissue cooling element and the light source, and another for returning the fluid to the reservoir, reducing the number of coolant lines to two and simplifying the umbilical cable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If separate coolant systems are used for light source and tissue, then both components can be cooled effectively, but the umbilical cable becomes bulky and material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate coolant systems into a single integrated cooling circuit that serves both the light source and tissue cooling elements. The unified coolant circulation loop eliminates the need for four separate coolant lines, reducing umbilical cable bulkiness and material costs while maintaining effective temperature control for both components through strategic placement of cooling channels and heat exchange structures.
2Temperature
If four coolant lines are used in a single umbilical cable, then both light source and tissue can be cooled, but the cable becomes awkward for operators to handle
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the cooling functions into a single circulation loop with two coolant lines instead of four, the patent significantly reduces the number of separate conduits within the umbilical cable. This consolidation maintains adequate temperature control for both light source and tissue while making the cable much thinner and more manageable for operators during procedures.
3Temperature
If separate coolant systems are used, then cooling functions are independent, but material and assembly costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple cooling functions into a single manufactured assembly with shared coolant lines and unified cooling structures. This approach reduces the total quantity of materials required (coolant lines, connectors, insulation) and simplifies assembly procedures, thereby reducing both material costs and assembly complexity while preserving the cooling capabilities needed for effective tissue 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
This configuration effectively cools both the tissue and the light source using a single cooling fluid circulation loop, reducing the bulkiness of the umbilical cable and lowering material and assembly costs while maintaining effective temperature control.
Implementation Method 1
cooling fluid circulation loop to cool both the tissue cooling element and the light source
Implementation Method 2
A first fluid passage is provided between the reservoir and the channel structure of the tissue cooling structure to deliver the cooling fluid through the tissue cooling structure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
A tissue treatment system includes an applicator connected with a base unit. The applicator includes a light source to generate light energy. A light guide directs the light energy to biological tissue and is configured to contact biological tissue. A thermoelectric cooler has a cold side and a hot side, with the cold side being associated with the light guide. A hot side plate is mounted to the hot side of the thermoelectric cooler. A first fluid passage is between the reservoir and the hot side plate to deliver cooling fluid over the hot side plate to chill the cold side of the thermoelectric cooler and cool the light guide and biological tissue. A second fluid passage is associated with the light source to direct cooling fluid to the light source prior to being returned to the reservoir. The first and second fluid passages define a single cooling fluid circulation loop.