Biomarker-Guided Stapler Control for Tissue Irregularities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical procedures face complications due to unaccounted tissue irregularities such as thicker-than-normal, stiffer-than-normal, or highly-variable-in-thickness tissues, leading to issues like staple-line leaks and inefficient tissue compression, which can be exacerbated by sub-optimal surgical stapler settings.
Innovation Solution
A computing system predicts tissue irregularities using patient biomarkers like tissue perfusion pressure, lactate, and oxygen saturation to adjust surgical device parameters, such as stapler firing speed, closure compression force, and energy levels, thereby mitigating potential complications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If tissue biopsies and surgical procedures are performed to diagnose cancer, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but patient trauma and procedural risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of biomarkers in bodily fluids before invasive procedures are needed. By continuously tracking biomarker levels and patterns in blood, urine, or other fluids, the system can detect cancer presence and progression early, enabling diagnosis without immediate resort to traumatic biopsies or surgeries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses biomarkers in bodily fluids as intermediary indicators of tissue pathology. Instead of directly examining tissue through biopsy, the system measures biomarker levels and patterns in accessible fluids that reflect the state of distant or difficult-to-reach tissues, providing indirect but accurate diagnostic information without trauma.
2Measurement precision
If imaging techniques and biopsies are used to monitor cancer progression, then treatment effectiveness is evaluated, but additional patient trauma and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-monitoring of cancer treatment response through routine collection of bodily fluids. Patients can provide urine or blood samples at home or in clinic, and the system automatically analyzes biomarker levels to assess treatment effectiveness, eliminating the need for repeated expensive imaging studies or procedural biopsies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical invasive procedures (biopsies, surgical interventions) and expensive imaging techniques with biochemical analysis of bodily fluids. By substituting physical tissue sampling and radiation-based imaging with liquid biopsy and biomarker measurement, the system reduces both patient trauma and procedural costs while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
3Loss of time
If traditional monitoring methods are used after cancer treatment, then recurrence detection is delayed, but early intervention opportunities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides continuous monitoring of cancer recurrence through regular analysis of biomarkers in bodily fluids. Rather than periodic imaging or biopsies, the system enables ongoing tracking of biomarker levels and patterns, allowing continuous detection of disease recurrence signals and immediate intervention when changes are detected.
Data Source
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AI summary
Tissue irregularity complication(s) may be predicted based on biomarker measurements obtained before a surgery and/or during the surgery via one or more sensing systems. For example, a computing system may monitor the patient biomarker(s) including tissue perfusion pressure, lactate, oxygen saturation, VO2Max, respiration rate, autonomic tone, sweat rate, heart rate variability, skin conductance, GI motility, edema and/or hydration state. Based on the prediction, the computing system may generate a control signal configured to alter a matter in which a surgical cutting and stapling device and/or a surgical energy operate, to adjust a surgical procedure plan, to adjust a surgical instrument selection, indicate a probability of the tissue irregularity complication, and/or to indicate a suggested adjustment to surgical procedure plan, surgical approach, and/or surgical instrument selection.