Clamping Instrument Torque Control via Tip Deflection Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments, such as staplers and vessel sealers, face challenges in controlling torque to ensure proper clamping and sealing during minimally invasive procedures, leading to inadequate staple formation and tissue damage due to improper clamping force.
Innovation Solution
A method is implemented to acquire a data set of clamping torque as a function of tip deflection, determining a specific torque limit to prevent excessive tip separation, which is stored in memory and used to control the clamping instrument, ensuring appropriate clamping force is applied by limiting the current to the motor assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If high clamping force is applied to ensure proper staple formation, then staple quality is improved, but tip separation increases causing inadequate clamping
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that measure tip deflection and clamping force in real-time, feeding this information back to the control system. The control system adjusts motor current dynamically to maintain optimal clamping force while preventing excessive tip separation, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving proper staple formation and avoiding tip separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of clamping force parameters based on measured tip deflection. By changing the applied force parameter in response to real-time measurements, the system maintains the optimal balance between sufficient clamping for staple formation and limited tip separation, resolving the technical contradiction.
2Manufacturing precision
If high clamping force is applied to ensure proper tissue sealing, then sealing quality is improved, but tissue damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors monitor tissue clamping force and tip deflection during the sealing process, providing real-time feedback to the control system. This enables dynamic adjustment of motor current to maintain precise clamping force, ensuring adequate sealing while preventing excessive force that would cause tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static clamping force application to dynamic control based on real-time measurements. The motor current is continuously adjusted during the sealing process to match the actual tissue response, enabling precise control that achieves proper sealing while minimizing tissue damage.
3Measurement precision
If torque control is implemented to prevent tip separation, then clamping precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to measure tip deflection and clamping force, feeding this data back to a control algorithm that adjusts motor current. This feedback mechanism provides precise torque control without requiring complex mechanical structures, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical torque control mechanisms with an electronic control system that uses sensor feedback and motor current regulation. This substitution achieves precise clamping force control through electronic means rather than mechanical complexity, resolving the technical contradiction.
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 approach allows for precise control of clamping force, preventing excessive tip separation and ensuring proper staple formation and tissue sealing, thereby reducing tissue damage and improving surgical outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a torque limit corresponding to a limit on current provided to one or more motors used to actuate the clamping instrument
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Embodiments of a clamping instrument are disclosed. In some embodiments, a clamping device with calibrated parameters and a calibration process for the clamping device is presented. A method of calibrating a clamping instrument can include acquiring a data set of clamping torque as a function of tip deflection data for the clamping instrument; determining a torque limit from the data set; and storing the torque limit in the clamping instrument.