UV Light Surgical Device for Minimally Invasive Tissue Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ablation devices for treating menorrhagia are cumbersome, painful, and often require hospital admission and anesthesia due to large shaft diameters and complex equipment setups, while diagnostic tools are costly and difficult to use in outpatient settings, limiting accessibility for patients.
Innovation Solution
A UV light-based therapy device with a cannulated shaft and UV light transparent distention member for minimally invasive uterine treatment and a compact diagnostic tool for visualizing internal tissue, both designed for single-use or outpatient procedures to reduce equipment complexity and patient trauma.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional ablation devices with large current carrying conductors are used, then effective tissue ablation is achieved, but the shaft diameter becomes large causing patient pain and requiring hospital admission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical electrical conductors with optical fibers that transmit laser energy. This substitution allows the shaft diameter to be reduced significantly while maintaining effective tissue ablation capability, as optical fibers are much thinner than electrical conductors requiring high current carrying capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the energy delivery parameter from electrical current to optical laser energy. This parameter change enables the use of thin optical fibers instead of thick electrical conductors, reducing shaft diameter from potentially 10mm or more to less than 3mm, thereby eliminating the need for cervical dilation and hospital admission.
2Reliability
If ablation devices requiring material mediums (steam, cryogenics) are used, then tissue ablation is achieved, but additional equipment and ports are required increasing procedure complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for material mediums (steam, cryogenics, gas) from the ablation process. By using direct laser energy delivery through optical fibers, the invention removes all associated equipment such as steam generators, cryogenic storage systems, gas tanks, and multiple ports, significantly simplifying the device to essentially just the hysteroscope with integrated laser delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces material-based thermal ablation systems with optical-based laser ablation. This substitution eliminates the need for complex material delivery systems including pumps, pressure regulators, temperature control systems, and multiple access ports, reducing the entire system to a single integrated hysteroscope device.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hysteroscopy equipment is installed in outpatient clinics, then diagnostic accessibility is improved, but the cost and complexity of equipment installation becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the diagnostic hysteroscope and therapeutic laser ablation device into a single integrated system. This combination allows outpatient clinics to perform both diagnosis and treatment with one device, eliminating the need for separate expensive hysteroscopy equipment and laser systems, thereby making the technology economically feasible for outpatient settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a multi-functional device that can perform both diagnostic visualization and therapeutic ablation through a single hysteroscope. This universality allows outpatient clinics to replace multiple specialized equipment with one device, significantly reducing installation cost and complexity while improving accessibility for both diagnosis and treatment.
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 UV light therapy device effectively ablates uterine tissue with reduced pain and complexity, allowing for outpatient procedures, while the diagnostic tool provides accessible and sterile visualization of internal tissues, enhancing patient access to care without the need for extensive hospital equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a UV light source configured extend from the distal opening and apply an energy to an intra-uterine tissue sufficient to ablate the uterine tissue
Implementation Method 2
an UV light transparent distention member translatable within the cannulated shaft configured to distend a patient's uterus
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A surgical device such as a therapy device that can allow a surgeon to treat a target tissue with ultra-violet (UV) light ablation therapy. In one example, the therapy device is configured to treat menorrhagia. In that instance, the therapy device may be configured to effect or destroy the endometrium during a procedure treating menorrhagia.