Tissue Chamber Device for Uniform Electroporation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional endoscopic treatments for cancerous tissues face challenges in achieving uniformity of physical field application, leading to variations in treatment efficacy across different regions of diseased tissue.

Innovation Solution

A device with a chamber and active elements, capable of drawing tissue into contact with electrodes or other treatment elements using vacuum suction, ensuring a homogeneous electric field and precise control over the treatment area, while minimizing risk to healthy tissue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional endoscopic techniques are used to treat cancerous tissue, then the treatment can be applied to accessible tissues, but the uniformity of physical field application varies across different regions of diseased tissue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniformity of physical field applicationVSAvoidaccessibility to different regions of tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment device divides the tissue treatment process into discrete segments by confining tissue within a chamber and applying treatment in controlled portions. The chamber segments the physical field application to ensure uniform coverage of the confined tissue volume, while the device can be repositioned to treat different regions of diseased tissue systematically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device applies different qualities of treatment to different regions by confining specific tissue areas within the chamber where uniform physical field application occurs. Healthy tissue surrounding the diseased area is protected from the intense physical field, while the confined diseased tissue receives optimized treatment. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by ensuring uniformity where needed while maintaining operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the physical field intensity is increased to improve treatment efficacy, then treatment effectiveness improves, but the risk of damage to surrounding healthy tissue increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoiddamage to healthy tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device extracts and isolates the diseased tissue from surrounding healthy tissue by confining it within a chamber. This extraction allows the application of high-intensity physical fields to the diseased tissue without exposing healthy tissue to harmful effects. The chamber acts as a boundary that separates the treatment zone from healthy tissue, resolving the contradiction between treatment efficacy and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The chamber serves as an intermediary structure between the physical field source and the tissue. It mediates the interaction by confining the physical field to a specific volume, ensuring that high-intensity fields are applied only to the diseased tissue within the chamber while protecting surrounding healthy tissue. This intermediary structure enables effective treatment without harmful side effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If a larger treatment area is targeted to treat extensive diseased tissue, then more tissue can be treated, but the uniformity of treatment delivery decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolume of tissue treatedVSAvoiduniformity of treatment delivery

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The device treats extensive diseased tissue through periodic application of treatment to confined portions. By systematically moving the device to treat different sections of diseased tissue in discrete, uniform increments, the total volume treated increases while maintaining uniformity within each treatment segment. This periodic approach resolves the contradiction by achieving both quantity and quality through repeated standardized applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 device enables uniform and effective delivery of therapeutic agents and electrical pulses to targeted tissue volumes, enhancing treatment efficacy and minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Implementation Method 1

capable of drawing tissue into contact with electrodes or other treatment elements using vacuum suction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum suction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

Therapeutic 'electroporation' involves application of electric fields to target cells/tissues, thereby rendering their cell membranes transiently porous, thus making feasible the cellular uptake and efficacy of previously impermeant and ineffective therapeutic agents

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroporation: Electrical Impedance Tomography

Data Source

PatentUS8545497B2Apparatus for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of tissue

Publication Date: 2013.10.01 UNIV COLLEGE CORK NAT UNIV OF IRELAND CORK

AI summary

Apparatus (20) for carrying out a prophylactic or treatment procedure on tissue comprises a device (21) having a chamber (22) and at least one active element such as an electrode (23) within the chamber (22). The chamber (22) has an opening (26) through which tissue is drawn into the chamber (22). Means for drawing the tissue into the chamber may comprise a vacuum lumen with vacuum orifices (25) in the chamber (22). Treatment such as electroporation may be applied to tissue in the chamber (22).