Electrosurgical Instrument Conductive Gap Setting Member
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electrosurgical devices face challenges in maintaining effective tissue sealing and preventing arcing between electrodes, which can lead to inefficient hemostasis and tissue damage due to inadequate control over the gap between electrodes and excessive electrical energy.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an electrically conductive gap setting member that defines a controlled gap between the electrodes, preventing them from contacting each other and ensuring a minimum distance for effective coagulation while avoiding arcing, and using electrically insulative tissue engaging members to facilitate tissue grasping without energy flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gap between electrodes is reduced to improve sealing effectiveness, then tissue sealing quality is improved, but arcing between electrodes occurs causing tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
An electrically insulative gap setting member is introduced as an intermediary element between the two electrodes. This member physically defines and maintains a controlled gap distance, preventing direct electrical contact and arcing while still allowing the electrodes to be positioned close enough for effective tissue sealing. The insulative material acts as a mediator that enables the electrodes to operate at optimal sealing distance without the harmful effect of electrical breakdown.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention controls the gap parameter between electrodes by using a gap setting member with specific dimensional characteristics. The gap distance is precisely defined by the physical dimensions of the insulative member, allowing optimization of the electrode spacing parameter to achieve effective sealing while preventing arcing. This parameter control transforms the gap from an uncontrolled variable to a precisely managed design feature.
2Reliability
If electrically conductive tissue engaging members are used to improve tissue grasping, then tissue engagement is improved, but electrical current flows through them causing unintended heating
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue engaging members are designed with localized electrical properties - specifically, they are made electrically insulative in the regions that contact tissue. This local quality assignment allows the members to perform their mechanical function of tissue grasping and positioning while preventing electrical current flow through the tissue engagement surfaces. The insulative property is applied specifically where needed to prevent harmful heating.
3Use of energy by moving object
If electrodes are allowed to contact each other for efficient energy transfer, then energy efficiency is improved, but short-circuiting occurs preventing effective hemostasis
Solution Approach 1:
The electrically insulative gap setting member serves as a mediator that prevents direct electrical contact between electrodes, thereby avoiding short-circuiting. It allows the electrical energy to be efficiently transferred through the tissue path between the electrodes while blocking any parasitic current paths that would cause short-circuits. This mediator enables the system to maintain both energy efficiency and hemostasis effectiveness.
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 enables precise tissue sealing with reduced arcing and tissue damage, ensuring efficient hemostasis by maintaining a controlled gap between electrodes and preventing short-circuiting, thereby enhancing the performance of electrosurgical devices.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically insulative gap setting member that defines a controlled gap between the electrodes, preventing them from contacting each other
Implementation Method 2
ensuring a minimum distance for effective coagulation while avoiding arcing
Implementation Method 3
using electrically insulative tissue engaging members to facilitate tissue grasping without energy flow
Implementation Method 4
Heat generated by the current flow through the tissue in combination with the compression achieved by the jaw's movement may form hemostatic seals within the tissue
Data Source
AI summary
An end effector includes a grasping portion that includes a first jaw member having a first electrode, a second jaw member having a second electrode, a first electrically conductive member located either on the first jaw member or the second jaw member, and a gap setting portion having a second electrically conductive member located at the distal end of either the first jaw member or the second jaw member. The electrically insulative member is sized and configured to engage tissue and the second electrically conductive member sized and configured to define a minimum distance between the first and second electrodes.