Monopolar Electrosurgery Current-Path Prediction for Burn Risk Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Monopolar electrosurgery tools pose a risk of accidental tissue burns due to unpredictable current paths through a patient's body, especially when metal implants or grounded metal objects are present, as the current follows paths of least resistance, potentially damaging implants and causing burns.
Innovation Solution
A system and method to predict potential current paths from an active electrode to a return electrode by analyzing electrical properties of tissues using 3D scans and endoscopic views, highlighting at-risk areas, and allowing repositioning of the grounding pad or patient to avoid burn risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If monopolar electrosurgery tools are used to cut or coagulate tissue, then surgical procedures can be performed, but unintended current paths may cause electrical burns to surrounding tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary simulation of current paths through tissue before actual electrosurgery is performed. The software module calculates and visualizes potential current paths based on patient-specific anatomical data, allowing surgeons to identify and avoid areas at risk for electrical burns before making incisions or applying coagulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback during surgical planning by displaying simulated current paths and highlighting regions at risk for electrical burns. This feedback loop allows surgeons to adjust their surgical approach, tool positioning, or parameters before actual surgery to prevent harmful current paths.
2Reliability
If current path simulation software is used to predict electrical burn risks, then patient safety can be improved, but computational complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an intermediary finite element model that simplifies the complex electrical properties of tissue into manageable computational segments. The software divides the tissue domain into discrete elements with defined electrical conductivity properties, allowing efficient calculation of current paths without requiring full-scale complex tissue modeling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the patient's anatomy using medical imaging data (CT or MRI scans) to build a digital twin for simulation. This virtual anatomical model allows current path prediction without requiring physical prototypes or complex experimental setups, reducing computational complexity while maintaining accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If patient-specific anatomical data is integrated into current path simulation, then prediction accuracy is improved, but data processing requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the patient's anatomy into distinct tissue types (muscle, fat, bone, organs) based on medical imaging data, assigning different electrical conductivity properties to each segment. This segmentation approach allows accurate current path prediction by accounting for tissue heterogeneity while managing data complexity through systematic classification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms anatomical imaging data into electrical conductivity parameters suitable for current path simulation. By converting structural information from CT or MRI scans into functional electrical properties, the system achieves accurate predictions while streamlining data processing through parameter transformation rather than direct image analysis.
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
Enables visualization and mitigation of tissue burn risks by altering current paths, reducing the likelihood of electrical injuries during monopolar electrosurgery procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a monopolar electrosurgery tool delivers electrical current through a surgical site to cut or coagulate tissue
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments described herein provide various examples of predicting potential current paths from an active electrode of a monopolar electrosurgery tool to a return electrode of the monopolar electrosurgery tool based on analyzing electrical properties of tissues inside a patient's body, and evaluating and eliminating tissue burn risks associated with the predicted current paths. In some embodiments, a current-path-prediction technique is used to predict a set of potential current paths from the active electrode to the return electrode for any given geometrical configuration of the two electrodes on the patient's body. These predicted current paths can then be pictorially displayed on a 3D scan of the patient's body or an endoscopic view of the patient's body and in relation to the display of any existing metal implant inside the patient's body, which allows for visualizing points of tissue burn risks inside the patient's body.