Electrosurgical Shield with Cylindrical Cuff and Arcuate Portion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electrosurgical suction coagulators often cause unintended damage to surrounding healthy tissue due to the fully exposed tubular electrode, which delivers electrosurgical energy to adjacent tissues during surgical procedures.

Innovation Solution

A shield for the electrosurgical suction coagulator featuring a cylindrical cuff with a distally extending arcuate shielding portion, manufactured from thermally and electrically insulating material, to prevent damage by providing selective shielding coverage around the electrode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the tubular electrode is fully exposed to deliver electrosurgical energy, then the effectiveness of tissue coagulation and dissection is improved, but unintended damage to surrounding healthy tissue occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue coagulation effectivenessVSAvoiddamage to surrounding healthy tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing shielding only at specific locations around the electrode where healthy tissue needs protection, rather than completely enclosing the electrode. The shielded portion covers the proximal and lateral surfaces of the tubular electrode, creating different functional zones: a shielded zone that protects healthy tissue and an unshielded distal zone that maintains effective tissue coagulation and dissection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary shielding component made of electrically insulating material that acts as a mediator between the electrosurgical electrode and surrounding healthy tissue. This intermediary structure blocks harmful electrical, electromagnetic, and thermal energy from reaching adjacent healthy tissue while allowing the electrode to function effectively at the surgical site

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the shaft is made malleable to allow bending to desired shape, then the adaptability to different surgical sites is improved, but the structural stability and precision of electrosurgical energy delivery may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different surgical sitesVSAvoidstructural stability for energy delivery

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite materials in the shaft construction, combining malleable materials (such as aluminum and/or polymeric materials) that enable bending and shaping with sufficiently rigid components that maintain structural stability. This composite approach allows the shaft to be bent to desired shapes for accessing different surgical sites while preserving the precision needed for reliable electrosurgical energy delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 shield effectively prevents electrical, electromagnetic, and thermal damage to adjacent tissues by providing customizable shielding options, allowing for controlled electrosurgical energy delivery and minimizing tissue damage during surgical procedures.

Implementation Method 1

manufactured from thermally and electrically insulating material, to prevent damage by providing selective shielding coverage around the electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

manufactured from thermally and electrically insulating material, to prevent damage by providing selective shielding coverage around the electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

The shielding portion prevents electrical, electromagnetic, and thermal damage to adjacent tissues

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic shielding: Faraday Cage

Data Source

PatentUS10052169B2Shield for electrosurgical suction coagulator and kit including the same

Publication Date: 2018.08.21 AL JARBA MESHIL A M O H

AI summary

The shield for an electrosurgical suction coagulator includes a cylindrical cuff and a shielding portion. The cylindrical cuff is sized for releasably engaging a distal end of a shaft of an electrosurgical suction coagulator. The shielding portion has an arcuate cross-sectional contour and is mounted on the cylindrical cuff such that the shielding portion extends distally therefrom. The shielding portion has a radius of curvature equal to a radius of curvature of the cylindrical cuff and is positioned coaxially therewith. A plurality of shields for the electrosurgical suction coagulator may be provided in a kit, along with the electrosurgical suction coagulator. In the kit, a circumferential length of each shielding portion of each shield is unique, such that a user of the electrosurgical suction coagulator may select a desired one of the shields for a desired amount of shielding coverage.