Disposable Electrosurgical Probe Eliminates Sterilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Reusable electrosurgical probes require complex and costly sterilization processes, are prone to damage, and pose risks of contamination and injury due to their durable materials, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs in medical procedures.

Innovation Solution

A disposable electrosurgical probe design featuring a single-use working element, sheath, and active electrode, made from disposable materials, which eliminates the need for sterilization and reduces handling and maintenance, allowing for a pre-sterilized kit with all necessary components for a single medical procedure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If reusable electrosurgical probes are used, then functional performance is maintained, but sterilization complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional performanceVSAvoidsterilization complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the disposable principle by making the entire electrosurgical probe assembly (including sheath, working element, and electrode) single-use. This eliminates sterilization complexity while maintaining functional performance, as each probe is pre-packaged sterile and discarded after one use. The disposable nature resolves the contradiction by removing the sterilization requirement entirely.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of manufacture

If reusable electrosurgical probes are used, then initial cost is reduced, but maintenance and repair costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinitial costVSAvoidmaintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The disposable probe design replaces expensive reusable components with affordable single-use alternatives. The sheath, working element, and electrode are manufactured as inexpensive disposable units, eliminating maintenance and repair costs entirely. While the initial unit cost is higher than reusable probes, the total cost of ownership is reduced by eliminating sterilization, maintenance, and repair expenses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If reusable electrosurgical probes are used, then equipment durability is improved, but contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment durabilityVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The disposable probe eliminates contamination risk by being discarded after single use, preventing cross-contamination between patients. The pre-packaged sterile design ensures sterility until use, while the single-use nature guarantees no re-contamination can occur. This resolves the contradiction by making contamination impossible rather than managing it through sterilization protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Quantity of substance

If reusable electrosurgical probes are used, then resource utilization is improved, but procedural delays increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidprocedural delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The disposable probes are pre-packaged in sterile condition before the procedure, eliminating the need for on-site sterilization processes. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction by making the probe ready for immediate use, eliminating procedural delays while still allowing resource utilization through the efficiency of not having to sterilize equipment between cases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 disposable electrosurgical probe reduces procedural delays, minimizes the risk of hospital-acquired infections, and decreases the burden on surgical teams by providing a ready-to-use, pre-sterilized kit that saves time and resources while maintaining functional equivalence to traditional reusable probes.

Implementation Method 1

applying a highly damped radio frequency (RF) current to tissue through an electrode in the form of an active (+) electrode (tip) of an electrosurgical (electrocautery) probe

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadio frequency current: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

Irrigating solutions are commonly used as a distention medium and a coolant for the active electrodes of RF probes during electrosurgical procedures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIrrigation cooling: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11324547B2Electrosurgical probe and kit and method of using

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 ENDOMEDICAL CONCEPTS

AI summary

Electrosurgical probes for treating tissue, and surgical procedures that make use of such probes. Such a probe includes a working element having a core member, a sheath secured to the working element, and a conductor disposed in a first internal longitudinal channel of the core member and having an active electrode coupled thereto. The sheath has a passage in which the core member is disposed, and the passage has an opening at a distal end of the sheath. The conductor is reciprocable within the sheath and adapted to carry a radio frequency current to and from the active electrode, which extends from the opening at the distal end of the sheath. An irrigation channel is defined by a second internal longitudinal channel of the core member. The electrosurgical probe is marked as disposable and not for reuse in a medical procedure performed on more than one patient.