Electrosurgical Forceps with Adjustable Seal Widths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vessel sealing devices apply electrosurgical sealing energy equally to both portions of a vessel, leading to inadequate sealing on the patient-side, which cannot withstand higher blood pressures and may result in incidental leakage from the resected organ.
Innovation Solution
An electrosurgical forceps with an end effector assembly featuring selectively positionable jaw members and a cutting blade, allowing for adjustable seal widths by positioning the cutting blade within blade channels, enabling differential sealing widths to accommodate varying blood pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrosurgical sealing energy is applied equally to both portions of the vessel, then the sealing process is simple and consistent, but the seal strength is insufficient on the patient-side to withstand higher blood pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different seal widths to different portions of the vessel based on local requirements. The patient-side portion receives a wider seal (first seal width) to withstand higher blood pressures, while the resected-side portion receives a narrower seal (second seal width). This local differentiation of sealing characteristics resolves the contradiction by providing enhanced reliability where needed without unnecessarily complicating the overall sealing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing process is divided into two distinct segments: a first seal created on the patient-side portion and a second seal created on the resected-side portion. The cutting blade is positioned to create these separate sealed segments, allowing each portion to be optimized independently for its specific functional requirements, thereby improving overall seal strength without requiring complex integrated mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single seal width is used for both vessel portions, then the device operation is simple, but the seal cannot accommodate varying blood pressure requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable cutting blade that can be dynamically positioned within the jaw assembly to create seals of different widths. The blade can be adjusted to position itself relative to the jaw surfaces, enabling the creation of a wider first seal and a narrower second seal according to varying surgical requirements. This dynamic positioning capability provides adaptability to different blood pressure conditions while maintaining ease of operation through intuitive blade movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting blade is pre-positioned within the jaw assembly before the sealing process begins. This preliminary positioning allows the surgeon to select the appropriate seal width configuration before applying electrosurgical energy, ensuring that the correct seal dimensions are established in advance to accommodate anticipated blood pressure variations without complicating the actual sealing operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cutting blade is fixed in position, then the device structure is simple, but selective seal width adjustment is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blade is designed as a movable component rather than a fixed element. It can be translated along the jaw assembly to different positions, allowing the creation of seals with varying widths. This dynamic positioning system provides selective seal width adjustment capability while maintaining relatively simple device structure through straightforward mechanical movement along a defined path within the jaw.
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 forceps provide a stronger seal on the patient-side of the vessel to withstand higher blood pressures while preventing leakage from the resected organ by selectively positioning the cutting blade within the blade channels, ensuring effective vessel sealing during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
At least one of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface configured to connect to an electrosurgical energy source
Implementation Method 2
the source generates electrosurgical energy to coagulate tissue grasped between the first jaw member and the second jaw member
Data Source
AI summary
An end effector assembly of a forceps includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member and the second jaw member are selectively positionable relative to one another. At least one of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface configured to connect to an electrosurgical energy source, and at least one of the jaw members includes two blade channels defined therein and extending therealong and a feed in member selectively positioned between the two blade channels. The end effector further includes a cutting blade that is translatable such that selective positioning of the feed in member enables the cutting blade to selectively enter into at least one of the two blade channels.