Electrosurgical Generator Contact Detection for Metal Anchor Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The potential damage to bipolar electrodes made of precious metal alloy during transurethral resection procedures due to contact with metal anchors like UroLift, leading to increased surgical costs and uncertainty about electrode metal parts remaining in patients, is addressed.
Innovation Solution
A method to identify contact between electrosurgical instrument poles and electrically conductive solids by evaluating RF signal and resulting electrical signals, allowing for immediate intervention to prevent damage, such as temporarily switching off the instrument or changing its operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If transurethral resection is performed using electrosurgical instrument, then body tissues can be cut or vaporized, but electrode may contact metal anchor and suffer damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection by continuously monitoring electrical parameters (impedance, current, voltage) during the electrosurgical procedure to identify potential contact between the electrode and metal anchor before actual damage occurs. This early detection enables preventive action to be taken.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously measuring electrical parameters during the procedure and using this information to detect contact conditions. When contact is detected through characteristic changes in impedance or current patterns, the system provides feedback to alert the operator and can automatically interrupt the RF signal to prevent electrode damage.
2Strength
If electrode is made of precious metal alloy, then cutting and vaporizing performance is improved, but cost increases and risk of metal parts remaining in patient increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the use of disposable electrosurgical instruments with precious metal electrodes by providing contact detection and prevention mechanisms. This allows single-use electrodes to maintain high performance while eliminating the risk of retained metal fragments, as the electrode is discarded after one use anyway.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potentially harmful contact between electrode and metal anchor into a detectable signal. By monitoring characteristic electrical changes that occur during contact, the system transforms what would be a damaging event into useful information for preventing electrode damage and ensuring patient safety.
3Reliability
If contact with metal anchor is detected, then electrode damage can be prevented, but surgical procedure must be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables rapid detection and response to contact conditions by continuously monitoring electrical parameters and quickly identifying contact through characteristic signal changes. This allows the system to rush through the detection process and minimize the time the procedure is interrupted, as the automatic detection and alert system can identify contact almost immediately upon occurrence.
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
Effectively prevents electrode damage by quickly identifying and responding to contact with conductive solids, reducing surgical costs and ensuring safe surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
evaluating RF signal and resulting electrical signals to identify contact between at least one of the instrument poles and the electrically conductive solid
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Generator for controlling an electrosurgical instrument, in particular a resectoscope in transurethral resection, for cutting, vaporizing or thermally treating body tissues, wherein the electrosurgical instrument has one or two instrument poles, and the electrosurgical instrument is controlled by an RF signal in order to control an electrical instrument current via one instrument pole or via the two instrument poles when the RF signal is activated, wherein the generator is prepared to identify a contact of one or both instrument poles with an electrically conductive solid.