Thermal Ablation Heating Catheter for Controlled Vein Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatments for venous reflux, such as surgical stripping, sclerotherapy, and endovenous thermal ablation, are either invasive, require prolonged recovery, or pose risks like deep vein thrombosis and skin staining, and lack efficient methods for targeted vein closure.
Innovation Solution
A flexible heating catheter with adjustable and selectively activatable heating elements, connected to an energy delivery console, for controlled thermal ablation of veins, ensuring precise vein closure with minimal tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgical stripping is used to treat venous reflux, then vein removal is achieved, but prolonged recovery period and heavy bruising occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical surgical stripping system with a thermal energy delivery system. A catheter delivers radiofrequency or microwave energy to heat and ablate the vein wall, causing controlled shrinkage and closure. This substitution of mechanical removal with thermal ablation achieves vein closure without the trauma of surgical stripping, thereby reducing recovery time while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the vein tissue through controlled thermal heating. By delivering energy that raises the temperature of the vein wall to specific ranges (60-120°C), the tissue undergoes coagulation and shrinkage, transforming from a functional vein to a closed structure. This parameter-based approach (temperature control) enables precise vein closure with minimal surrounding tissue damage, reducing bruising and accelerating recovery.
2Reliability
If sclerotherapy is used to treat venous reflux, then vein closure is achieved, but deep vein thrombosis and skin staining occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical sclerotherapy system with a physical thermal energy system. Instead of injecting sclerosant chemicals that irritate and damage the vein wall, the patent uses radiofrequency or microwave energy to directly heat the vein wall, causing controlled coagulation and closure. This physical approach avoids the chemical side effects including deep vein thrombosis and skin staining while achieving reliable vein closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves vein closure by controlling the thermal parameters (temperature, heating time, energy density) rather than relying on chemical concentration and exposure time. By precisely controlling the temperature profile within the vein wall, the treatment achieves effective closure while limiting thermal damage to surrounding tissues, thereby preventing skin staining and reducing thrombosis risk.
3Reliability
If endovenous thermal ablation is used to treat venous reflux, then vein closure is achieved, but controlled thermal ablation with minimal tissue damage is challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heating catheter into multiple independently controllable heating zones or segments along its length. Each segment can be activated separately with controlled energy delivery, allowing selective treatment of different portions of the vein. This segmentation enables precise control over which areas receive thermal ablation, improving safety and reducing complexity by localizing energy delivery to only the necessary treatment zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates temperature sensing and feedback control mechanisms within the heating catheter. Temperature sensors monitor the thermal state of the vein wall in real-time, and this information feeds back to the energy delivery system to automatically adjust power levels. This closed-loop feedback ensures the temperature remains within the therapeutic window for vein closure while preventing overheating and damage to surrounding tissues, simplifying the control process.
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
Facilitates rapid and effective vein closure with reduced procedural time and complications, allowing outpatient treatment with minimal discomfort and quicker recovery.
Implementation Method 1
heat is applied within the vein to cause the vein wall to permanently shrink to the point the vein lumen is occluded
Data Source
AI summary
A technique allows for an electrical connection between a thermal abrasion heating catheter and the energy delivery console that utilizes serial communication. Accordingly, the serial communication allows data such as measured temperature, start/stop status, intended treatment area, device identification, device calibration parameters and/or use history to be conveyed along the same wires that deliver power to a heating element. For example, data can be conveyed along a two wire connection and provided at a frequency that is filtered out so that it is not delivered to a heating feature. In this example, one wire provides power to the heating element, one wire provided communication from the energy delivery console, and a third wire provides a common ground which the heating catheter uses to communicate with the energy delivery console.