Adaptive Firing Control Algorithm for Surgical Staplers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments lack efficient control mechanisms for managing tissue compression and stapling operations, leading to inconsistent tissue handling and potential complications during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
The development of a surgical instrument system that includes a handle assembly with a drive system and a surgical end effector capable of receiving independent drive motions to perform stapling and cutting tasks. This system incorporates a timing indicator to manage tissue compression time and a feedback mechanism to adjust firing motion parameters based on elapsed compression time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a motor-driven firing system is used to automate stapling operations, then productivity and consistency are improved, but control precision over tissue compression time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that detect the position of the displacement member and provide feedback signals to the controller. The controller uses this feedback to determine the velocity of the displacement member and adjust firing parameters dynamically. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables precise control of tissue compression time while maintaining automated motor-driven operation, resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and control precision deterioration.
2Device complexity
If fixed firing motion parameters are used for all tissue types, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision of surgical outcomes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from fixed firing motion parameters to dynamic parameter adjustment based on real-time tissue feedback. The controller modifies firing velocity and compression time according to detected tissue characteristics and compression duration. This dynamic adaptation enables consistent surgical outcomes across different tissue types while maintaining relatively simple device architecture through algorithmic flexibility rather than hardware complexity.
3Productivity
If rapid firing velocity is used to reduce surgical time, then productivity is improved, but tissue damage from insufficient compression time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes firing parameters including velocity and compression time based on real-time feedback. When rapid firing is initiated, the controller monitors compression duration and adjusts the displacement member velocity to ensure adequate compression time is achieved before stapling. This parameter adaptation allows high productivity while preventing tissue damage from insufficient compression by automatically extending compression duration when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical instrument is disclosed including an end effector configurable between an open state and a clamped state, a firing member movable from an unfired position toward a fired position during a firing stroke, a manually-driveable closure system, a motor-powered firing system, and a control system. The motor-powered firing system is configured to drive the firing member through the firing stroke. The control system is configured to detect, at a first time point, the end effector reaching the clamped state with the manually-driveable closure system, detect, at a second time point, the actuation of the motor-powered firing system, set a firing motion parameter of the motor-powered firing system based on an elapsed time from the first time point to the second time point, and drive the firing member through the firing stroke with the motor- powered firing system using the firing motion parameter.