Tissue Ablation via Vapor-to-Liquid Phase Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical systems for tissue ablation and removal lack precision and control in applying thermal and mechanical energy to discriminate between different tissue types, often causing unintended damage to surrounding tissues during procedures like spinal disc ablation.
Innovation Solution
A medical ablation system utilizing high-pressure flows of vapor and fluid jets, generated by an inductive heater, to apply controlled thermal energy and mechanical forces, allowing for precise ablation and removal of targeted tissue while minimizing damage to adjacent tissues through adjustable vapor quality and jetting parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high energy flows are used to ablate tissue, then ablation effectiveness is improved, but damage to surrounding tissues increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different vapor qualities (dry vs. wet vapor) to different tissue types locally. Dry vapor is used for tougher tissues like the annulus requiring higher energy, while wet vapor is used for softer tissues like the nucleus requiring less energy, thereby achieving effective ablation while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts vapor quality and jetting parameters in real-time based on tissue type and procedural requirements. The controller modifies energy delivery parameters during the procedure to optimize ablation effectiveness while controlling thermal spread and minimizing damage to adjacent structures.
2Productivity
If thermal energy is applied to ablate tissue, then tissue removal is achieved, but thermal spread to adjacent structures occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical parameters of the energy delivery by using different vapor qualities (temperature, moisture content) and jetting parameters (pressure, flow rate). This allows precise control of thermal energy delivery, achieving effective tissue removal while limiting thermal spread to adjacent structures through optimized parameter selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system partially replaces thermal energy delivery with mechanical energy delivery through high-velocity fluid jets. The mechanical forces from the jets contribute to tissue disintegration and removal, reducing reliance on pure thermal energy and thereby minimizing thermal spread to surrounding tissues.
3Adaptability or versatility
If energy delivery parameters are increased to discriminate between tissue types, then tissue discrimination capability is improved, but control precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses changes in vapor quality parameters (temperature, moisture content, pressure) to discriminate between different tissue types. The controller precisely manages these parameters to create distinct energy delivery profiles that differentiate between tissue types, achieving effective discrimination while maintaining controllable precision through systematic parameter management.
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
Enables precise ablation and removal of targeted tissue with controlled thermal and mechanical energy application, effectively discriminating between different tissue types, such as the nucleus and annulus in spinal discs, reducing damage and improving procedural outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
an inductive heater, to apply controlled thermal energy and mechanical forces
Implementation Method 2
utilizes a vapor-to-liquid phase change of flow media to apply thermal energy to the tissue
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to medical instruments and systems for applying energy to tissue. Variations of the systems and methods described herein include ablating, sealing, and extracting tissue with high pressure flows of fluids that in part utilizes a vapor-to-liquid phase change of flow media to apply thermal energy to the tissue.