Deflectable Electrode Energy Control for Tissue Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments struggle to control and customize single or multiple energy modalities based on the type of tissue being treated, limiting the quality of tissue treatment, sealing, or cutting.
Innovation Solution
The development of end-effectors that can deliver a combination of ultrasonic and electrosurgical energy modalities, such as ultrasonic and bipolar RF energy, allowing for simultaneous, independent, or sequential application, with features like deflectable electrodes and compliant pads to adjust energy density and tissue interaction, preventing damage, and minimizing tissue sticking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed electrode parameters are used in electrosurgical instruments, then the device structure is simple, but the ability to control and customize energy delivery based on tissue type is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is designed with variable parameters including deflectable geometry and adjustable compression forces, allowing dynamic adaptation to different tissue types and surgical requirements. The electrode can change its effective parameters during operation based on tissue feedback, enabling customized energy delivery without requiring multiple fixed electrodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements variable electrode parameters such as adjustable compression forces, modifiable contact areas, and changeable electrode geometry through deflection. These parameter variations allow the same electrode structure to deliver customized energy levels and patterns suitable for different tissue types, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
2Productivity
If higher energy density is applied to tissue, then cutting and sealing effectiveness is improved, but tissue damage and instrument damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor tissue response during energy delivery. Based on this feedback, the electrode parameters such as compression force and contact area are dynamically adjusted to optimize energy density. This feedback control prevents excessive energy application that could cause tissue charring or instrument damage while maintaining effective cutting and sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode's deflection capability allows dynamic adjustment of contact area and pressure during operation. When tissue resistance increases or charring is detected, the electrode can deflect to reduce contact area and lower energy density, preventing damage while maintaining surgical effectiveness.
3Reliability
If electrode compression force is increased to improve tissue sealing, then sealing quality is enhanced, but tissue sticking to the electrode increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic or cyclic compression and release of the electrode against the tissue. This periodic action allows the electrode to maintain sufficient compression for effective sealing while periodically reducing contact pressure to prevent tissue adhesion and sticking, resolving the contradiction between sealing quality and tissue sticking.
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 precise control over energy delivery, reducing tissue sticking, and preventing damage to the surgical instruments, while enabling versatile surgical procedures including open, minimally invasive, and non-invasive surgeries.
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
The electrical energy may be in the form of radio frequency ('RF') energy. RF energy is a form of electrical energy that may be in the frequency range of 200 kilohertz (kHz) to 1 megahertz (MHz). In application, 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
Data Source
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AI summary
An end-effector is disclosed. The end-effector includes a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade configured to acoustically couple to an ultrasonic transducer and electrically couple to a pole of an electrical generator. The clamp arm includes a clamp jaw and an electrode configured to electrically couple to an opposite pole of the electrical generator. In one configuration, the electrode is segmented. In another configuration, the ultrasonic blade includes electrically insulative material deposited on selected areas to prevent electrical shorting in the event of the ultrasonic blade contacts the electrode. In another configuration, the clamp arm, the ultrasonic blade, or both include selectively coated components.