Solid State Heating Element for Uniform Tissue Thermal Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices face challenges in achieving high power densities and precise temperature control for tissue heating, particularly in achieving uniform thermal treatment across tissue surfaces while minimizing thermal gradients and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The use of solid state heating systems integrated with control circuitry and temperature-sensing elements, which include transistors and resistive elements, to generate heat and regulate temperature for thermally treating tissue, allowing for precise control and uniform heating through feedback mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If external energy sources and complex electronics are used to heat tissue, then high power density and temperature control capability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument incorporates an integrated power source that autonomously generates electrical energy at the tip of the instrument, eliminating the need for external power sources. The solid state heating element converts this generated electricity directly into heat at the treatment site, enabling the device to serve itself with power generation and delivery capabilities built-in.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated system: the power source, control circuitry, solid state heating element, and temperature sensing are all merged within the surgical instrument housing. This consolidation reduces the need for separate external devices and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining high power density capability.
2Manufacturing precision
If uniform thermal treatment is achieved across tissue surfaces, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but thermal gradients within the device increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument incorporates temperature sensing elements that continuously monitor the temperature at the tissue interface and feed this information back to the control circuitry. The control system uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the power delivery to the solid state heating element, ensuring uniform thermal treatment across the tissue surface while compensating for variations in tissue properties or contact pressure.
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 approach enables efficient, precise, and uniform thermal treatment of tissue, reducing the need for external energy sources and complex electronics, while allowing for customization of thermal treatments and minimizing thermal gradients within medical devices.
Implementation Method 1
The solid state heating element includes one or more transistors configured to generate heat to thermally treat tissue
Implementation Method 2
The one or more temperature-sensing elements are configured to sense a temperature of the solid state heating element, tissue, and/or another element thermally coupled to the solid state heating element or tissue
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device for treating tissue includes a tissue-contacting surface and a solid state heating element that is thermally coupled to the tissue-contacting surface. The solid state heating element is configured to generate heat to thermally treat tissue.