Ultrasonic Blade Resonance Frequency Shift for Incision Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic treatment devices face challenges in accurately detecting the completion of tissue incision due to false impedance peaks, particularly in layered tissues, leading to incomplete cuts.
Innovation Solution
The device employs a control unit that adjusts the supply of electrical energy based on changes in the resonance frequency of the blade, detecting a shift from a decreasing to an increasing trend, which occurs when the blade contacts the jaw after the tissue is completely cut, thereby ensuring precise incision detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If ultrasonic impedance detection is used to detect incision completion, then the detection process is simple, but false peaks occur in layered tissues leading to incomplete cuts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces resonance frequency as an intermediary parameter to detect incision completion. Instead of directly using ultrasonic impedance which produces false peaks, the system monitors changes in the resonance frequency of the ultrasonic blade itself. When the blade contacts the jaw after complete incision, the resonance frequency changes, providing a reliable detection signal without the false peak problem.
2Productivity
If the blade continues to vibrate after tissue cutting, then the cutting action is maintained, but wear and damage occur on the pad and blade
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the resonance frequency of the ultrasonic blade and using this information to control the continuation of ultrasonic vibrations. When the resonance frequency indicates complete incision (blade contacts jaw), the system automatically stops further vibration, preventing unnecessary wear on the pad and blade while ensuring complete cutting.
3Measurement precision
If resonance frequency monitoring is implemented to accurately detect incision completion, then false peaks are avoided, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs multiple functions: it generates the ultrasonic drive signal, monitors the resonance frequency of the blade, detects incision completion based on frequency changes, and controls the cessation of vibrations. By making the control unit multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated hardware for resonance monitoring, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity while achieving precise detection.
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 effectively avoids false peaks and ensures complete tissue cutting by accurately determining the completion of the incision, reducing wear on the tissue-contacting components and improving surgical precision.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasonic transducer for converting electric energy into ultrasonic vibrations
Implementation Method 2
The frictional heat generated between the vibrating tissue-contacting member and the tissue is used to cut through the tissue
Implementation Method 3
a control unit configured to control a supply of electrical energy to the drive source, the control unit being configured to adjust the supply of electrical energy to the drive source in response to a detection of a change in a resonance frequency of the blade
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment device for treating a target tissue includes a drive source having a transducer configured to convert electrical energy to mechanical vibrations, an instrument having a blade connected to the drive source and configured to apply the mechanical vibrations to the target tissue, and a control unit configured to control a supply of electrical energy to the drive source. The control unit is configured to automatically adjust the supply of electrical energy to the drive source in response to a detection of a change in a resonance frequency of the blade. The change in resonance frequency of the blade occurs after the target tissue has been completely cut by the blade.