Bipolar Forceps Tissue Identification via Impedance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bipolar electrosurgical instruments lack the ability to accurately determine tissue type and condition during surgical procedures, leading to potential damage or ineffective treatment due to inappropriate energy delivery configurations.

Innovation Solution

A bipolar forceps with an electrode assembly that measures tissue electrical properties, including impedance, conductance, and capacitance, connected to a processing unit to identify tissue type and condition, and adjust energy delivery accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional bipolar electrosurgical instruments are used, then mechanical clamping and electrical energy delivery are achieved, but the ability to accurately determine tissue type and condition is lacking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue identification accuracyVSAvoidinstrument structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single bipolar electrosurgical instrument: mechanical clamping via jaw members, electrical energy delivery through electrodes, and tissue identification through impedance measurement. The electrode assembly integrates both treatment and diagnostic capabilities, allowing the instrument to simultaneously clamp tissue, deliver energy, and identify tissue type based on electrical properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bipolar electrosurgical instrument is designed with multi-functionality to perform mechanical clamping, electrical coagulation, and tissue identification. The electrode assembly serves dual purposes: delivering therapeutic electrical energy and measuring tissue impedance for identification. This universal design allows a single instrument to replace multiple separate tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a specific energy delivery configuration is used for target tissue, then proper sealing is achieved for that tissue type, but damage or ineffective treatment occurs when non-target tissue is treated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument incorporates feedback through tissue impedance measurement. The electrode assembly measures the electrical properties of the clamped tissue, and the processor compares these measurements against stored reference values to identify tissue type. Based on this identification, the system can adjust the energy delivery configuration to match the specific tissue type, preventing damage to non-target tissues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The energy delivery configuration is made dynamic and adaptive rather than fixed. The processor selectively adjusts electrical parameters such as power, pulse duration, and waveform based on the identified tissue type. This dynamic adjustment allows the same instrument to safely and effectively treat different tissue types including blood vessels, ligaments, and nerves.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If visual inspection is used to determine tissue type, then tissue identification is possible in most cases, but identification fails when tissue type is not visually apparent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue identification simplicityVSAvoidtissue type information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces visual inspection with electrical measurement for tissue identification. Instead of relying on the surgeon's visual assessment, the electrode assembly measures tissue impedance and the processor analyzes electrical properties to automatically identify tissue type. This substitution provides objective, reliable identification even when tissue appearance is ambiguous or not visually distinguishable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enables precise identification of tissue type and condition, allowing for optimized energy delivery and effective treatment, reducing the risk of tissue damage and treatment failure.

Implementation Method 1

A measurable electrical property of tissue is its impedance; i.e., the resistance tissue offers to the flow of electrical current through it.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical impedance measurement: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

electrical energy can be selectively transferred through the tissue... heating the tissue and blood vessels to coagulate, cauterize and/or seal tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS11540873B2Surgical instrument for tissue identification

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

A method for identifying and treating tissue includes providing an electrosurgical treatment device including an electrode assembly. One or more electrical property values of target tissue are measured. The measured electrical property values of the target tissue are compared against electrical property values of known tissue types. A tissue type of the target tissue is identified. An energy delivery configuration of the electrosurgical treatment device is adjusted to the type of target tissue. The electrosurgical treatment device is activated to treat the target tissue.