Electrosurgical Generator Tissue Mass Prediction
Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrosurgical systems face challenges in accurately controlling the sealing of tissue due to variations in tissue mass, requiring precise adjustment of energy delivery parameters to achieve effective vessel sealing.
Innovation Solution
An electrosurgical system with forceps having pivotally attached jaw members and an electrosurgical generator that measures tissue parameters and adjusts user-defined energy settings based on predicted tissue mass, ensuring controlled energy application for effective sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrosurgical energy is applied to seal tissue, then tissue sealing is achieved, but the sealing effectiveness varies due to variations in tissue mass
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures tissue impedance during the sealing process and uses this feedback to automatically adjust electrosurgical energy delivery parameters. The controller monitors impedance changes in real-time and modifies energy application to match the actual tissue mass, ensuring consistent sealing effectiveness across different tissue thicknesses and compositions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes electrosurgical energy parameters (such as power, duration, and waveform) based on measured tissue impedance. By adjusting these parameters in response to detected tissue mass variations, the system optimizes energy delivery to achieve reliable sealing across different tissue types and thicknesses.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustment of energy settings is performed, then energy delivery can be optimized, but the process is time-consuming and prone to user error
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically measures tissue impedance and adjusts energy delivery parameters without requiring manual user input. The controller self-regulates the electrosurgical energy based on real-time impedance measurements, eliminating the need for user expertise in determining optimal settings and reducing adjustment time to zero.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary impedance measurement before initiating the sealing process to determine the appropriate energy parameters in advance. This preliminary assessment allows the system to pre-configure optimal energy delivery settings, eliminating the need for trial-and-error adjustments during the actual sealing procedure.
3Reliability
If high electrosurgical energy is applied to ensure sealing, then sealing effectiveness improves, but the risk of tissue damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors tissue impedance during energy application and automatically reduces energy delivery when impedance changes indicate approaching tissue damage thresholds. This feedback mechanism prevents excessive energy accumulation while maintaining sufficient sealing effectiveness, thereby reducing the risk of thermal damage to surrounding tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies electrosurgical energy in controlled periodic cycles with built-in safety interruptions. By delivering energy in controlled pulses rather than continuous high-power application, the system maintains sealing effectiveness while allowing heat dissipation periods that prevent thermal damage to the tissue.
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 system achieves precise tissue sealing by predicting tissue mass and adjusting energy settings, ensuring consistent and effective vessel sealing capable of withstanding high burst pressures.
Implementation Method 1
Electrosurgery involves application of high radio frequency electrical current to a surgical site to cut, ablate, or coagulate tissue
Implementation Method 2
In monopolar electrosurgery, a source or active electrode delivers radio frequency energy from the electrosurgical generator to the tissue and a return electrode carries the current back to the generator
Implementation Method 3
Reference is made to US 2003/0171745 A1. This document discloses a system for assessing the completeness or trasmurality of a lesion by monitoring the impedance of the tissue to be ablated
Implementation Method 4
Tissue or vessel sealing is a process of liquefying the collagen, elastin and ground substances in the tissue so that they reform into a fused mass with significantly-reduced demarcation between the opposing tissue structures
Implementation Method 5
cauterization involves the use of heat to destroy tissue and coagulation is a process of desiccating tissue wherein the tissue cells are ruptured and dried
Data Source
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AI summary
An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The system includes an electrosurgical forceps including first and second jaw members pivotally attached in opposing relation relative to one another, the jaw members relatively movable from a first, open position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second, clamping position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween with a predetermined clamping force, each of the jaw members including an electrically conductive sealing surface. The system also includes an electrosurgical generator configured to operatively couple to the electrosurgical forceps and to supply electrosurgical energy to the electrically conductive sealing surfaces. The electrosurgical generator includes at least one input control configured to record a user-defined setting associated with the electrosurgical energy; at least one sensor configured to measure at least one tissue parameter or at least one electrosurgical energy parameter; and a controller configured to predict a tissue mass of the tissue grasped by the jaw members based on the at least one tissue parameter or at least one electrosurgical energy parameter and to adjust the user-defined setting as a function of the predicted tissue mass.