Coagulation Electrode Isolation for Medical Instruments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical instruments face challenges in effective coagulation during surgical procedures due to geometry and mechanical structure, leading to short circuits from multiple conducting surfaces and bulkiness from non-conducting additions.
Innovation Solution
A medical system with an elongated shaft, a cutting element, and a position-tracking transducer electrically insulated from the shaft, featuring a metal coagulation electrode that isolates from the shaft and applies electrical current for coagulation, using a signal generator and processing circuitry to control the current during and after cutting actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple conducting surfaces are added to the medical instrument for coagulation, then coagulation effectiveness is improved, but short circuits occur between conducting surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an electrically insulating coating on the position-tracking transducer and uses electrically insulating material between the coagulation electrode and shaft. This intermediary insulating layer prevents direct electrical contact between conducting surfaces, eliminating short circuits while allowing multiple conducting surfaces to coexist for effective coagulation.
2Reliability
If non-conducting material is added to electrically isolate the coagulation electrode from the shaft, then short circuit prevention is improved, but device bulkiness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin film electrically insulating coatings on the position-tracking transducer and thin layers of electrically insulating material between components. These thin films provide adequate electrical isolation without adding significant volume, thus preventing short circuits while maintaining instrument compactness.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the position-tracking transducer is electrically insulated from the shaft, then electromagnetic shielding is improved, but coagulation electrode isolation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple isolation functions into a single integrated solution: the electrically insulating coating on the position-tracking transducer simultaneously provides both electromagnetic shielding and electrical isolation. Additionally, the insulating material between the coagulation electrode and shaft serves dual purposes of electrical isolation and structural integration, simplifying the overall design while achieving multiple protective functions.
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 system effectively reduces bleeding by applying electrical current through the metal coagulation electrode, providing electromagnetic shielding and reducing metal interference, thus enhancing coagulation efficiency while maintaining instrument compactness.
Implementation Method 1
a signal generator coupled to apply an electrical current to the at least one metal coagulation electrode
Implementation Method 2
a position-tracking transducer disposed at the distal end of the shaft... processing circuitry configured to receive signals generated by the position-tracking transducer, and track a location of the distal end
Implementation Method 3
providing electromagnetic shielding and reducing metal interference
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a medical system includes a medical instrument includes an elongated shaft having a distal end, at least one cutting element disposed at a distal end of the shaft, a position-tracking transducer disposed at the distal end of the shaft, and electrically insulated from the shaft and the at least one cutting element, and at least one metal coagulation electrode disposed at least partially over the position-tracking transducer, which electrically isolates the at least one metal coagulation electrode from the shaft, a signal generator coupled to apply an electrical current to the at least one metal coagulation electrode, and processing circuitry configured to receive signals generated by the position-tracking transducer, and track a location of the distal end responsively to the received signals.