HF Surgical Instrument Jaw With Dynamic Electrode Heat Sinking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bipolar high-frequency surgical instruments face challenges in manufacturing complexity, high thermal mass leading to inefficient energy use, and excessive heat loss, which affects the sealing process and risks unintentional tissue damage.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a jaw part featuring a metal electrode and a heat sink that are thermally decoupled and recoupled based on the instrument's state, using a spring mechanism to enable efficient heating and cooling by varying thermal conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a solid metal electrode is used, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but thermal mass increases causing excessive heat loss to the electrode itself
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw part is divided into functionally independent components: a thin metal electrode for tissue contact and a separate heat sink for thermal management. This segmentation allows the electrode to have minimal thermal mass for efficient heating while the heat sink provides thermal mass for heat absorption, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and thermal energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
A heat sink acts as an intermediary thermal management component between the RF generator and the tissue. It serves as a thermal buffer that can absorb excess heat when the electrode is not in use, preventing unnecessary cooling during sealing operations while maintaining safety during idle periods.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a heat sink with large thermal mass is always connected to the electrode, then unintentional tissue damage is prevented during idle periods, but sealing time increases due to excessive cooling during use
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal connection between the heat sink and electrode is made dynamic rather than static. The heat sink is thermally coupled to the electrode during idle periods to prevent overheating and potential tissue damage, but thermally decoupled during active sealing to minimize cooling effects and reduce sealing time. This dynamic thermal management resolves the contradiction between safety and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal conductivity parameter between the heat sink and electrode is changed based on operational state. During idle periods, high thermal conductivity allows heat dissipation to prevent damage. During sealing operations, low thermal conductivity minimizes heat loss to reduce sealing time. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between preventing harmful effects and maintaining process efficiency.
3Temperature
If a sandwich construction with multiple components is used, then thermal management is improved, but manufacturing precision decreases due to cumulative tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw part is segmented into a thin metal electrode and a separate heat sink component. This segmentation enables specialized manufacturing for each component - the electrode can be made with high precision for optimal tissue contact while the heat sink can be manufactured with standard tolerances, reducing the impact of cumulative tolerances while maintaining effective thermal management.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the jaw assembly have different quality requirements. The tissue-contacting electrode surface requires high manufacturing precision for optimal performance, while the heat sink connection regions can accommodate standard manufacturing tolerances. This local quality approach allows thermal management functionality without compromising overall manufacturing precision.
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 solution allows effective tissue sealing by minimizing unnecessary cooling during use and rapid cooling when not in use, reducing manufacturing complexity and preventing tissue damage.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (14), which is compressed in the closed state by the closing force of the jaw part (2)
Implementation Method 2
the at least one metal electrode (8) and the at least one heat sink (12) are in a (heat-conducting/heat-transferring/thermally coupled) connection with one another
Implementation Method 3
a high-frequency alternating current is passed through the human body or a body part to specifically cauterize (coagulate) or cut (electrotomy) tissue through the resulting heat
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a surgical instrument (1), in particular an HF instrument, comprising a mouth part (2) having two limbs (4) which can be moved relative to one another between an open state and a closed state of the mouth part (2). The mouth part (2) has at least one metal electrode (8) having a contact surface (10) for bringing into contact with a tissue, and a heat sink (12) facing away from the contact surface (10). In the closed state, the at least one metal electrode (8) and the at least one heat sink (12) are spaced apart from one another and are thermally separated, and in the open state the at least one metal electrode (8) and the at least one heat sink (12) are in heat-conducting connection with one another.