Vibrating Electronic Probe for Tissue Ablation Boundary Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for confirming complete ablation in radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatments for liver tumors are inefficient, often requiring additional procedures and costly imaging agents, and can be hindered by patient allergies and increased operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A tissue imaging method that involves inserting an electronic probe into the lesion area, capturing initial and vibrational images using an imaging apparatus, generating a correlation image based on these images, and computing the ablation boundary to determine if the ablation is complete.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ultrasound developer is injected for imaging to confirm ablation effect, then the ablation range can be confirmed, but patient allergic reactions occur and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the ultrasound developer substance from the ablation confirmation process. Instead of injecting developer into the lesion area, the system uses the electronic probe itself with vibration function to generate images that reveal the ablation boundary, thereby removing the harmful allergic reactions associated with developer injection while maintaining accurate ablation range confirmation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical-based ultrasound developer injection method with a mechanical vibration-based imaging method. The electronic probe generates vibrations that propagate through tissue, and the imaging system captures these vibrations to create images showing the ablation boundary, substituting a mechanical/physical approach for the chemical approach
2Measurement precision
If ultrasound developer is injected for imaging to confirm ablation effect, then the ablation range can be confirmed, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for expensive ultrasound developer substances from the procedure. By using the electronic probe's vibration capability and the imaging system's ability to detect these vibrations, the method eliminates the cost of developer injection while maintaining accurate ablation boundary detection
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic probe serves multiple functions: it performs ablation and simultaneously provides the vibration source for imaging confirmation. The probe essentially images itself by generating vibrations that are detected by the imaging system, eliminating the need for separate expensive imaging agents
3Reliability
If electronic probe puncture and ablation are performed again for incomplete ablation, then complete ablation can be achieved, but operational costs and treatment time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary imaging during the ablation process itself to confirm whether the ablation boundary has been fully reached. By using vibration-based imaging to assess ablation completeness in real-time or near-real-time, the system can determine whether additional ablation is needed before leaving the procedure, preventing unnecessary repeat procedures and reducing overall treatment time
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 method allows for efficient confirmation of complete ablation without the need for additional imaging agents, reducing operational costs and minimizing the risk of patient allergies, while providing accurate determination of ablation boundaries.
Implementation Method 1
vibrating the electronic probe to generate displacement of at least a portion of the tissue of the lesion area
Implementation Method 2
capturing a first image including the lesion area by using an imaging apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a tissue imaging method, including: inserting an electronic probe into a lesion area of a patient and ablating tissue of the lesion area; capturing a first image including the lesion area by using an imaging apparatus; vibrating the electronic probe to generate displacement of at least a portion of the tissue of the lesion area, and capturing a second image including the lesion area by using the imaging apparatus; generating a correlation image according to a correlation between the first image and the second image; and computing an ablation boundary according to the correlation image.