Biological Tissue Sensing via Charge Storage Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrosurgical devices struggle to accurately determine the condition and type of biological tissue during treatment due to inaccurate and noisy impedance measurements, which can lead to incomplete or excessive treatment, especially when the treatment site is not visible and prone to tissue damage.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus that delivers an electrical signal to biological tissue, measures the amount of charge stored, and switches between operation modes to improve accuracy, allowing for precise determination of tissue condition and type by analyzing charge storage across various frequencies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If electrical impedance measurement is used to monitor tissue condition, then tissue condition can be sensed, but the measurement becomes noisy and inaccurate due to biological material properties and probe capacitance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue condition measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the measurement parameter from electrical impedance to charge storage capacity. By measuring the amount of charge stored in the tissue rather than impedance, the system achieves more accurate and reliable tissue condition detection, avoiding the noise and inaccuracies associated with impedance measurements in biological materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the electrical impedance measurement approach with a charge storage measurement approach. This substitution of the measurement mechanism eliminates the harmful effects of probe capacitance and biological material properties that cause noise in impedance measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Manufacturing precision

If electromagnetic energy is applied to ensure treatment completion, then treatment is completed, but unnecessary tissue damage occurs due to over application

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment completion accuracyVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism using charge storage measurement to monitor tissue condition in real-time. The system continuously measures charge storage capacity during treatment and uses this information to determine when treatment completion has been achieved, allowing precise control of energy application and preventing over-treatment and associated tissue damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary charge storage measurements before and during treatment to establish baseline tissue conditions and monitor changes. This preliminary monitoring enables the system to detect treatment completion early, preventing excessive energy application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If camera is provided to visualize treatment progress, then treatment progress can be viewed, but the view is often obscured by surrounding tissue or lacks clear visual indication of treatment completion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment progress visibilityVSAvoidtreatment completion detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces optical imaging (camera-based visualization) with electrical measurement (charge storage detection). This substitution provides direct, unobstructed information about tissue condition and treatment completion, eliminating the limitations of visual methods such as tissue obscuration and lack of clear indicators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses charge storage capacity as an intermediary parameter that directly reflects tissue condition and treatment status. This intermediary measurement provides clear, objective information about treatment progress and completion, serving as a reliable mediator between the treatment process and the clinician's understanding of treatment status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Provides accurate and reliable measurements of tissue condition and type, enabling controlled energy delivery and preventing unnecessary tissue damage by detecting changes in charge storage patterns, even in contaminated or difficult-to-access environments.

Implementation Method 1

obtain a charge measurement of an amount of charge stored in the biological tissue in response to the electrical signal during a sampling period after the active time period

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS20260096737A1An apparatus for sensing a biological tissue

Publication Date: 2026.04.09 CREO MEDICAL LTD

AI summary

Various aspects provide an apparatus for sensing a condition or type of a biological tissue. The apparatus comprises a control circuit. The control circuit comprises an electrical connection for delivering electrical signals to the biological tissue. The control circuit is adapted to: deliver an electrical signal to the biological tissue for an active time period; and obtain a charge measurement of an amount of charge stored in the biological tissue in response to the electrical signal during a sampling period after the active time period. Other related apparatuses and systems are also provided.