Capacitive Electrosurgical Apparatus for Low-Temperature Tissue Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional electrosurgical apparatuses cause pain and tissue necrosis due to high temperatures and require a return electrode for muscle tetanization, limiting their effectiveness for precise tissue cuts and incisions.
Innovation Solution
An electrosurgical apparatus with a generator system producing a radio-frequency signal between 40kHz and 90kHz, using capacitive coupling to deliver energy through a single active electrode, eliminating the need for a return plate and maintaining a peripheral temperature between 45°C and 60°C for efficient tissue vaporization without necrosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electrosurgical apparatuses use high-frequency signals (around 500kHz) for tissue cutting, then the electric signal penetrates deeply into the tissue, but this causes muscle tetanization and requires high power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the frequency parameter from traditional 500kHz down to 40-90kHz range. This parameter change eliminates muscle tetanization while maintaining effective tissue cutting capability through capacitive coupling, resolving the contradiction between cutting effectiveness and harmful muscle effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces capacitive coupling as an intermediary mechanism between the active electrode and the tissue. This intermediary allows energy transfer for effective cutting without requiring deep electric signal penetration that causes muscle tetanization, thus resolving the harmful effects while maintaining cutting reliability
2Productivity
If traditional electrosurgical apparatuses use high power to achieve effective tissue cutting, then the cutting performance is improved, but the peripheral temperature increases to 40°C-500°C causing pain and tissue necrosis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the frequency parameter to 40-90kHz range, which enables effective tissue cutting at much lower power levels. This parameter change reduces peripheral temperature from 40-500°C down to a safe range, eliminating pain and preventing tissue necrosis while maintaining cutting efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Capacitive coupling acts as an intermediary that enables efficient energy transfer to the tissue without requiring high power input. This intermediary mechanism achieves effective cutting at low power, thus controlling temperature and preventing harmful thermal effects
3Reliability
If traditional electrosurgical apparatuses use a return electrode to close the electric circuit, then the circuit is completed, but the electric signal penetrates deeply causing muscle tetanization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the return electrode from the system. By using capacitive coupling, the electric circuit is completed through the patient's body capacitance without requiring a physical return electrode, thus preventing deep electric signal penetration and muscle tetanization while maintaining circuit completion
Solution Approach 2:
Capacitive coupling serves as an intermediary mechanism that completes the electric circuit without requiring a return electrode. This intermediary allows the circuit to be closed through the patient's body capacitance, preventing deep signal penetration and harmful muscle effects while maintaining reliable circuit operation
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
The apparatus achieves precise tissue cuts with reduced temperature, preventing cell explosion and promoting haemostasis, while eliminating the need for a return electrode, thus reducing pain and tissue damage.
Implementation Method 1
The electric signal is configured in such a way that the energy emitted is transferred from the active electrode to the patient's body through a capacitive coupling
Implementation Method 2
The execution of cut or incision C occurs through thermal effect
Data Source
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AI summary
An electrosurgical apparatus (10) for performing a cut or incision (C) on epithelial tissue of the body (B) of a human or animal patient. The apparatus comprises a generator system (12) configured to generate a radio-frequency electric signal, and a handpiece (14) to be held by an operator and comprising an end (16) provided with a single active electrode (18) electrically connected to said generator system (12). The electric signal is configured to generate a cut or an incision (C) when said active electrode (18) comes into contact with the epithelial tissue of the body (B). The electric signal has a power ranging from 0.5W and 20W and a frequency ranging from 40kHz and 90kHz. The same signal is configured in such a way that the energy emitted is transferred from the active electrode (18) to the tissue of the body (B) through capacitive coupling. The tissue is cut at a peripheral temperature ranging from 45°C to 60°C. The electric circuit is closed to ground through a capacitive effect, as the apparatus does not use a return plate.