Vapor Delivery Needle Prostate Tissue Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) often provide only transient relief and can cause significant discomfort and morbidity, as they fail to uniformly ablate smooth muscle tissue and alpha adrenergic receptors around the prostatic urethra.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a vapor delivery system is used to ablate prostate tissue by delivering vapor interstitially into the prostate, targeting smooth muscle tissue, alpha adrenergic receptors, sympathetic nerve structures, and vasculature parallel to the prostatic urethra, without damaging surrounding tissues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If thermal ablation devices are used to treat BPH, then tissue ablation is achieved, but uniform ablation of smooth muscle tissue and alpha adrenergic receptors around the prostatic urethra is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by delivering thermal energy specifically to the transition zone containing smooth muscle tissue and alpha adrenergic receptors around the prostatic urethra, rather than uniform ablation of the entire prostate. The system targets specific anatomical regions (anterior, lateral, and posterior aspects of the transition zone) to achieve uniform ablation of the problematic tissue while preserving other prostate structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment is segmented into multiple discrete energy delivery steps targeting different regions of the transition zone. The system delivers energy to the anterior aspect, then the lateral aspects, then the posterior aspect, ensuring comprehensive and uniform ablation of smooth muscle tissue and receptors throughout the transition zone rather than attempting single-step complete ablation.
2Reliability
If aggressive surgical or thermal ablation interventions are used, then BPH symptoms are relieved, but significant peri-operative discomfort and morbidity occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of energy delivery by using controlled thermal energy at temperatures sufficient to ablate smooth muscle tissue and alpha adrenergic receptors but below levels that cause extensive tissue destruction. The system delivers energy in controlled pulses with specific duration and intensity parameters that achieve therapeutic effect while minimizing collateral damage and patient discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
By targeting only the transition zone containing the problematic smooth muscle tissue and receptors, rather than ablating the entire prostate gland, the treatment achieves effective symptom relief while preserving normal prostate tissue and minimizing peri-operative discomfort and morbidity associated with more aggressive interventions.
3Volume of stationary object
If the prostate gland expands with age, then BPH develops, but the fibromuscular tissue of the outer prostatic capsule restricts expansion causing urethral constriction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the problematic transition zone tissue containing smooth muscle and alpha adrenergic receptors from the prostate gland through targeted thermal ablation. By removing this specific tissue component that causes urethral constriction, the treatment relieves the harmful effect of urethral narrowing while preserving the rest of the prostate gland structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment applies local quality by specifically targeting the transition zone tissue that is causing the harmful urethral constriction, rather than removing or altering the entire prostate gland. This localized approach eliminates the pathological tissue responsible for flow resistance while maintaining normal prostate function.
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
This approach achieves localized ablation of prostate tissue adjacent to the urethra, providing durable relief from BPH symptoms by shrinking the transition zone, thus improving urine flow without causing long-term damage.
Implementation Method 1
delivering vapor into the first treatment region of the first lobe of the prostate to ablate tissue in the prostate
Implementation Method 2
measuring a distance from the bladder neck to a first treatment region in a first lobe of the prostate with a field of view of the camera
Data Source
AI summary
A vapor delivery system and method is provided that is adapted for treating prostate tissue. The vapor delivery system includes a vapor delivery needle configured to deliver condensable vapor energy to tissue. In one method, the vapor delivery system is advanced transurethrally into the patient to access the prostate tissue. The vapor delivery system is properly positioned by measuring and advancing the system based on a field-of-view of an endoscope or camera disposed within the system.