Electrosurgical Light Guide with Fluid Inlet Window
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrosurgical instruments face challenges in accurately analyzing biological tissue during HF surgery due to spectral distortion caused by smoke particles and tissue obstructions, which interfere with the light spectrum analysis from the plasma spark.
Innovation Solution
The instrument employs a light inlet window formed by a fluid body that maintains a clean, non-dirty liquid surface in contact with the light guide, allowing unadulterated absorption of light from the spark, and can be arranged to touch the electrode, utilizing hydrophilic surfaces and capillary effects to ensure clear light transmission to the analysis device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a light inlet window is positioned close to the electrode to capture spark light, then light absorption efficiency is improved, but the window surface gets contaminated by smoke particles and tissue debris
Solution Approach 1:
A fluid body (liquid or gas) is introduced as an intermediary medium between the spark/light source and the light inlet window. This fluid forms a protective barrier that prevents smoke particles and tissue debris from depositing on the window surface, while still allowing light to pass through to the light guide for spectral analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a fluid body to create a protected environment around the light inlet window, effectively isolating it from the harmful smoke and debris generated during electrosurgical procedures. This creates a clean optical path for light transmission.
2Measurement precision
If tissue parts are located between the spark and light inlet window, then light absorption is improved, but spectral distortion occurs due to tissue interference
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid body acts as an intermediary that eliminates the interfering tissue parts from the optical path between the spark and the light inlet window. By positioning the window within or near the fluid barrier, the patent ensures that only light from the spark reaches the window without being filtered or distorted by tissue.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the light inlet window is positioned in the immediate vicinity of the spark, then light capture efficiency is improved, but the window is more susceptible to contamination and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid body serves as a protective intermediary that shields the light inlet window from direct exposure to the harsh electrosurgical environment, including heat, smoke, and debris, while maintaining the window's close proximity to the spark for optimal light capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid body is positioned in advance to create a protective barrier before contamination or damage can occur to the light inlet window, ensuring continuous reliable operation throughout the electrosurgical procedure.
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
This solution ensures that the light spectrum from the spark is accurately transmitted to the analysis device without spectral distortion, enabling precise tissue differentiation and analysis during electrosurgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid body has a liquid surface, which does not get dirty or char from the deposition of smoke particles, even if it is located in the immediate vicinity of the spark. It is thus possible to absorb the light, which emanates from the spark, without spectral distortion.
Implementation Method 2
For this purpose, it is advantageous, if the light inlet window and/or the electrode encompass a hydrophilic surface. A substantially resting fluid body can be held in this manner between a surface of the light guide and the electrode. In the preferred case, two hydrophilic electrode surface, which are located opposite one another and between which there is no potential difference, form a gap, the bottom of which is formed by a hydrophilic light guide surface. The gap width is preferably so small that the fluid body is held in the gap by means of capillary effect.
Implementation Method 3
A substantially resting fluid body can be held in this manner between a surface of the light guide and the electrode. In the preferred case, two hydrophilic electrode surface, which are located opposite one another and between which there is no potential difference, form a gap, the bottom of which is formed by a hydrophilic light guide surface.
Data Source
AI summary
The instrument according to the invention for electrosurgically impacting biological tissue comprises an electrode (18) as well as a light guide (21), which is connected to a light inlet window (19), which is formed by means of a fluid body (27). The light guide is connected to a light analysis device (13), so as to absorb the light, which is generated at the electrode (18) in response to the HF surgery and so as to supply it to the light analysis device (13). The light inlet window (19) is arranged at the point of origin of the light, namely immediately at the electrode, that is, at the spark, which is generated. An adulteration of the absorbed light by means of smoke or particle deposition on the light inlet window (19) can virtually be avoided.