Modular Handheld Surgical Instrument for Adaptive RF-Ultrasonic Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments struggle to fully control and customize the functions of ultrasonic and electrosurgical devices, limiting precision and effectiveness in surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A modular battery-powered handheld surgical instrument with integrated RF and ultrasonic capabilities, featuring a controller, sensors, and drive circuits that adjust energy intensity, wave shape, and frequency based on tissue parameters and user input for precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If surgical instruments use fixed energy delivery modes, then device simplicity is maintained, but precision and customization capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument implements dynamic energy delivery by switching between ultrasonic and RF energy modes based on real-time tissue feedback. The controller dynamically adjusts energy parameters (power level, duty cycle, wave shape) during operation, allowing the system to adapt to varying tissue characteristics and surgical requirements, thereby achieving high precision without requiring multiple separate fixed-mode devices
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by varying the energy delivery mode (ultrasonic vs. RF), power levels, wave shapes, and duty cycles. These parameter changes enable the instrument to optimize cutting precision for different tissue types and surgical conditions, resolving the contradiction between precision and device simplicity
2Productivity
If surgical instruments apply high energy levels, then cutting effectiveness is improved, but tissue damage and harmful effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor tissue response during energy delivery. Based on this feedback, the controller adjusts energy levels in real-time, delivering high energy when needed for effective cutting while immediately reducing energy when tissue damage signs are detected, thus achieving high productivity without excessive harmful effects
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic or pulsed energy delivery patterns, alternating between active energy delivery and pause periods. This allows effective cutting through periodic high-energy bursts while minimizing continuous tissue exposure to harmful effects, resolving the contradiction between cutting effectiveness and tissue damage
3Adaptability or versatility
If surgical instruments use multiple energy modalities, then versatility is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument implements self-service control by automatically selecting between ultrasonic and RF energy modalities based on tissue characteristics and surgical stage. The system self-regulates energy delivery parameters without requiring complex manual intervention, thereby achieving high functional versatility while maintaining ease of operation through automated control
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
Enhances precision and control in cutting and coagulation procedures by dynamically adapting to tissue characteristics, improving surgical outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
Ultrasonic energy cuts and coagulates by vibrating a blade in contact with tissue. Vibrating at high frequencies (e.g., 55,500 times per second), the ultrasonic blade denatures protein in the tissue to form a sticky coagulum.
Implementation Method 2
Electrical energy applied by an electrosurgical instrument can be transmitted to the instrument by a generator in communication with the hand piece. The electrical energy may be in the form of radio frequency ('RF') energy. RF energy is a form of electrical energy that may be in the frequency range of 200 kilohertz (kHz) to 1 megahertz (MHz). In application, an electrosurgical instrument can transmit low frequency RF energy through tissue, which causes ionic agitation, or friction, in effect resistive heating, thereby increasing the temperature of the tissue.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method of controlling a modular battery powered handheld surgical instrument. The surgical instrument including a battery, a user input sensor, a controller, a radio frequency (RF) drive circuit, an ultrasonic transducer, ultrasonic transducer drive circuit, and an end effector. The end effector including an electrode electrically coupled to RF drive circuit, an ultrasonic blade acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic transducer, and a sensor to measure tissue parameters. The method includes applying an RF current drive signal to the electrode by the RF drive circuit; applying an ultrasonic drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer by the ultrasonic transducer drive circuit to acoustically excite the ultrasonic blade; controlling intensity, wave shape, and/or frequency of the RF current drive signal and the ultrasonic drive signal on a sensed measure of a tissue or user parameter.