Differential Conductivity End Effector for High Frequency Tissue Coagulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatment instruments for living tissues using high frequency energy struggle to effectively apply differential energy levels to targeted areas, leading to inadequate treatment outcomes, such as incomplete coagulation or incision of blood vessels during procedures like ultrasound-assisted surgery.
Innovation Solution
The treatment instrument employs a dual-electrode end effector with a distal end area and a proximal end area, where the distal end portion is made of a material with higher electric conductivity than the proximal end portion, allowing for differential high frequency energy application to the tissue, and a control device that adjusts energy levels to prioritize coagulation at the distal end area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If uniform high frequency energy is applied across the entire treatment surface, then the treatment instrument structure is simple, but the treatment efficacy is insufficient for targeted areas requiring higher energy
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector is designed with non-uniform electrical conductivity across different regions. The distal end area has higher electrical conductivity than the proximal end area, enabling localized delivery of higher high frequency energy to specific treatment regions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Reliability
If higher high frequency energy is applied to the distal end area, then coagulation efficacy is improved, but the risk of tissue damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector employs spatially varying electrical conductivity to concentrate high frequency energy delivery in the distal end area where it is most needed for coagulation, while reducing energy delivery in the proximal end area to minimize unnecessary tissue heating and potential damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical conductivity parameter of the end effector is varied across different spatial locations. The distal end area is designed with higher conductivity to enhance energy delivery for reliable coagulation, while the proximal end area has lower conductivity to control and limit energy delivery, thereby reducing harmful effects.
3Ease of manufacture
If the end effector uses a single material composition, then manufacturing is easier, but differential energy application to different areas is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single uniform material, the end effector employs different material compositions or electrical conductivity properties in different regions. The distal end area uses a material with higher electrical conductivity to enable higher energy delivery, while the proximal end area uses a material with lower conductivity, achieving differential energy application.
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 configuration enhances treatment efficacy by ensuring higher energy is applied to the distal end area, facilitating efficient coagulation of blood vessels and reducing the risk of incision errors, while simultaneously applying ultrasound energy to expedite the treatment process.
Implementation Method 1
a first one of the pair of electrodes includes a distal end portion that is located in the distal end area and a proximal end portion that is located in the other area
Implementation Method 2
applying ultrasound energy to expedite the treatment process
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment instrument includes: a sheath; and an end effector that is provided at a distal end of the sheath. The end effector is capable of gripping a living tissue and applying high frequency energy to the living tissue. The end effector includes a treatment surface, and a pair of electrodes that can grip the living tissue and apply the high frequency energy to the living tissue. The treatment surface includes a distal end area that is provided on a distal end side of the treatment surface, and another area that is provided on a proximal end side of the treatment surface. The distal end area applies, to the living tissue, high frequency energy that is higher than high frequency energy applied by the other area. One of the pair of electrodes includes a distal end portion and a proximal end portion.