Multi-Layer Clamp Arm Pad for Dual-Energy Tissue Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments struggle to control and customize single or multiple energy modalities effectively based on the type of tissue being treated, leading to inefficiencies in tissue treatment, sealing, or cutting.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with an end-effector that delivers multiple energy modalities, including ultrasonic and electrosurgical energy, allowing simultaneous, independent, or sequential application, with features like deflectable electrodes and compliant pads to adjust mechanical properties and prevent electrical shorting, ensuring precise tissue interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single electrode is used in the clamp arm pad, then the device structure is simple, but the ability to control and customize multiple energy modalities based on tissue type is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp arm pad is divided into multiple layers with distinct functions: a first electrode layer for delivering electrosurgical energy, a non-conductive layer for insulation, and a second electrode layer for returning current. This segmentation allows independent control of different energy modalities while maintaining structural organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-layer clamp arm pad structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as an electrode for energy delivery, provides electrical insulation between electrodes, maintains mechanical compression on tissue, and enables both electrosurgical and ultrasonic energy modalities to be applied through the same device interface.
2Area of stationary object
If electrodes are positioned close to each other in the clamp arm pad, then the device size is reduced, but electrical shorting between electrodes may occur
Solution Approach 1:
A non-conductive layer is positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode within the clamp arm pad. This intermediary layer provides electrical insulation that prevents shorting between electrodes while allowing the electrodes to be positioned in close proximity for compact device design.
3Reliability
If rigid electrodes are used, then electrical contact is reliable, but tissue sticking and charring may increase during surgical operations
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp arm pad combines conductive electrode materials with non-conductive insulating materials in a multi-layer composite structure. This allows the electrode surfaces to have properties that reduce tissue sticking while maintaining reliable electrical contact through the conductive layers.
4Productivity
If multiple energy modalities are applied simultaneously, then tissue treatment efficiency is improved, but control precision and customization based on tissue parameters become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical device enables dynamic selection and adjustment of energy modalities (electrosurgical and ultrasonic) that can be applied simultaneously or sequentially based on real-time tissue parameters and surgical requirements, providing adaptable control precision throughout the procedure.
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 the quality of tissue treatment by providing customizable energy delivery, minimizing tissue sticking and charring, and improving sealing and cutting precision.
Implementation Method 1
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 current is introduced into the tissue... Heat generated by the current flowing through the tissue may form hemostatic seals within the tissue
Implementation Method 3
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
Implementation Method 4
The cutting action is typically realized by an end-effector, ultrasonic blade, or ultrasonic blade tip, at the distal end of the instrument, which transmits ultrasonic energy to tissue brought into contact with the end-effector
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical device, is disclosed herein. The surgical device can include an end effector including a clamp jaw, a trigger configured to open and close the clamp jaw, a sensor configured to detect a relative position of the trigger, and a control circuit communicably coupled to the sensor and a generator, wherein the control circuit is configured to cause the generator to administer energy associated with a surgical operation to be performed on the tissue, receive a signal from the sensor, determine that the clamp jaws are not positioned to administer the energy associated with the surgical operation, and cause the generator to administer energy configured to release the tissue from an ultrasonic blade, wherein the energy configured to release the tissue from the clamp jaw is different than the energy associated with a surgical operation to be performed on the tissue.