Displaceable Heat Sink for Electrosurgical Forceps Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bipolar electrosurgical devices can cause unintended thermal damage to nearby tissue during surgical procedures due to heat generation from the heating elements used for cutting or sealing.
Innovation Solution
The electrosurgical device incorporates a heat sink that moves relative to the heating element, allowing it to dissipate heat when not in use and become thermally decoupled during tissue treatment, reducing the risk of thermal damage to surrounding tissues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a heating element is used for cutting or sealing tissue, then cutting or sealing capability is improved, but unintended thermal damage to nearby tissue occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the thermal management function by introducing a separate heat sink component that can be independently positioned relative to the heating element. This allows the heating element to perform its cutting or sealing function while the heat sink independently manages thermal effects on surrounding tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat sink acts as an intermediary component between the heating element and the surrounding tissue. It absorbs and dissipates excess heat, preventing direct thermal damage to nearby tissue while allowing the heating element to maintain its cutting or sealing capability.
2Temperature
If the heat sink remains in contact with the heating element during tissue treatment, then cooling capability is improved, but heat delivery to tissue is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heat sink is designed to be movable relative to the heating element, transitioning between different positions. During tissue treatment, the heat sink moves to a first position where it is spaced from the heating element, allowing full heat delivery. Between treatments, it moves to a second position where it contacts or approaches the heating element for rapid cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat sink periodically transitions between a cooling position (contacting or near the heating element) and a treatment position (spaced from the heating element). This periodic movement allows the system to alternate between heat generation for tissue treatment and heat dissipation for safety, optimizing both cutting performance and thermal safety.
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 design effectively reduces the risk of thermal damage to nearby tissues by rapidly cooling the heating element between uses and allowing for precise control over heat delivery during cutting or sealing, minimizing unintended tissue damage.
Implementation Method 1
a heat sink that moves relative to the heating element, allowing it to dissipate heat when not in use
Implementation Method 2
At least one of the first jaw and the second jaw can include a heating element and a heat sink. The heating element can heat to a temperature sufficient for cutting or sealing the tissue of the patient.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrosurgical medical device can include a first jaw, a second jaw, a heating element, and a heat sink. The heating element can be heated for cutting or sealing tissue. The heat sink and the heating element can move relative to each other. Such relative movement can be between a first state that dissipates heat from the heating element and a second state that allows the heating element to heat. Such relative movement can be actuated during closing of the jaws. For example, a displacement actuator on the first jaw can push the heat sink away from the heating element when the jaws are being closed, thereby moving the heating element and the heat sink from a first (heat sinking) state to a second (non-heat sinking) state. Heat in the heating element can dissipate through the heat sink in the first state for rapid cooling of the heating element.