Uterine Cavity Integrity Probe for Uniform Capacitive RF Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endometrial ablation devices face issues such as slow treatment times, incomplete treatments, non-uniform ablation depths, and risk of injury to adjacent organs, particularly due to perforations in the uterine cavity.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using a transcervically introduced probe to evaluate the integrity of the uterine cavity by monitoring fluid flow, enabling controlled radiofrequency ablation with a capacitive coupling mechanism through an expandable thin-wall dielectric member containing ionized gas, ensuring uniform ablation depth and minimizing organ injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If radiofrequency ablation is performed using conventional electrode designs, then endometrial tissue can be ablated, but treatment time is extended and ablation depth becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon electrode is designed to be expandable, allowing it to dynamically adapt to the uterine cavity shape. When inflated, the balloon expands to contact the endometrial tissue uniformly across the cavity, ensuring consistent ablation depth while maintaining rapid treatment capability through controlled expansion during the procedure
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state of the gas inside the balloon from non-ionized to ionized plasma state. This parameter change enables capacitive coupling of radiofrequency energy, allowing uniform energy distribution across the endometrial surface for consistent ablation depth while maintaining treatment efficiency
2Reliability
If radiofrequency current is applied directly to tissue, then ablation can be achieved, but risk of injury to adjacent organs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon electrode serves as an intermediary between the radiofrequency energy source and the endometrial tissue. It distributes the energy uniformly across the tissue surface through capacitive coupling, preventing concentrated energy delivery that could cause injury to adjacent organs while maintaining effective ablation power
Solution Approach 2:
The thin-wall dielectric balloon provides a flexible interface that conforms to the uterine cavity shape. This flexible shell distributes radiofrequency energy evenly across the endometrial surface, preventing localized overheating and protecting adjacent organs from energy-related injuries
3Productivity
If endometrial ablation is performed without cavity integrity verification, then treatment can proceed immediately, but risk of undetected perforations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary action by introducing gas into the uterine cavity before ablation treatment. This preliminary gas introduction allows verification of cavity integrity through pressure monitoring, ensuring no perforations exist before proceeding with the main ablation treatment, thus maintaining both safety and efficiency
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, controlled endometrial ablation with uniform depth and reduced risk of adjacent organ injury by using a capacitive coupling method with an expandable dielectric structure to ionize gas for capacitive coupling.
Implementation Method 1
applying radiofrequency current to endometrial tissue by means of capacitively coupling the current through an expandable, thin-wall dielectric member enclosing an ionized gas
Implementation Method 2
capacitively coupling the current through an expandable, thin-wall dielectric member
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems and devices for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity. A method comprises introducing transcervically a probe into a patient's uterine cavity, providing a flow of a fluid (e.g., CO2) through the probe into the uterine cavity and monitoring the rate of the flow to characterize the uterine cavity as perforated or non-perforated based on a change in the flow rate.