Cordless RF Cauterization Device with Integrated Power Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrosurgical forceps for sealing and cutting tissue face challenges in effectively sealing larger vessels due to difficulties in controlling mechanical parameters like pressure and gap distance between electrodes, leading to inconsistent and unreliable seals, and require large tabletop power supplies and cumbersome signal lines, limiting surgical efficiency and freedom.
Innovation Solution
A cordless, bipolar cauterization and cutting device with a self-powered, hand-held design that includes a passively articulating end effector and automated actuation assembly, eliminating the need for external power supplies and controllers, and providing improved control over tissue compression and sealing through integrated power and control circuitry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional electrosurgical forceps with tabletop power supplies and signal lines are used, then reliable electrosurgical energy delivery is achieved, but device complexity and surgical freedom are reduced due to cumbersome connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power supply and control circuitry from the external tabletop system and integrates them directly into the electrosurgical forceps device itself. This allows the device to operate independently without cumbersome external connections, thereby improving surgical freedom while maintaining reliable electrosurgical energy delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the power supply, control circuitry, and electrosurgical forceps into a single integrated unit. This combination eliminates the need for separate external power supplies and signal lines, reducing device complexity and enhancing ease of operation during surgical procedures.
2Reliability
If manual control of pressure and gap distance is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but sealing reliability becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that automatically adjust pressure and gap distance between the electrosurgical electrodes based on real-time monitoring of sealing parameters. This automated control ensures consistent and reliable seals without requiring complex manual adjustments by the surgeon.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of mechanical parameters (pressure and gap distance) during the sealing process. The system adapts these parameters in real-time based on tissue characteristics and sealing progress, ensuring optimal and consistent sealing results while maintaining manageable device complexity.
3Productivity
If more steps are required for sealing and cutting procedures, then process control is improved, but surgical efficiency and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by automatically positioning and preparing the electrosurgical electrodes before the actual sealing and cutting procedures. The integrated actuation system pre-adjusts pressure and alignment, reducing the number of manual steps required during the surgical procedure and thereby improving surgical efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the electrosurgical forceps with multi-functional capabilities, combining sealing, cutting, and automated control functions into a single device. This universal design allows the device to perform multiple surgical tasks without requiring separate instruments or complex multi-step procedures, thereby enhancing productivity while maintaining manageable device complexity.
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 device simplifies the surgical procedure by reducing the number of steps required for sealing and cutting, enhances the reliability of tissue seals, and allows for more precise control over tissue compression, while eliminating the need for bulky power supplies and signal lines, thereby improving surgical efficiency and reducing physical strain on surgeons.
Implementation Method 1
a switch-mode power supply and a radio-frequency-signal-generation circuit having an output, being coupled to the switch-mode power supply
Implementation Method 2
operable to generate a radio-frequency signal at the output
Implementation Method 3
bipolar cauterization and cutting device... to effect hemostasis by heating the tissue and blood vessels to coagulate, cauterize and/or seal tissue
Implementation Method 4
generate a radio-frequency signal... to provide the radio-frequency signal at the at least one electrical contact
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical device includes a radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly including a radio-frequency-signal-generation circuit operable to generate a radio-frequency signal at an output and adapted to couple to a switch-mode power supply and a surgical handle including an end effector having at least one jaw with at least one electrical contact, the end effector including at least one signal input that electrically connects to the output to provide the radio-frequency signal at the at least one electrical contact.