Endoscopic Laser Temperature Control via Predictive Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical site temperature control during procedures like laser lithotripsy lacks precision and speed, often leading to tissue thermal damage due to manual adjustments that may compromise therapy efficiency or extend procedure time.
Innovation Solution
An endoscopic surgical system with a temperature sensor and controller circuit that predicts future temperatures and automatically adjusts medical instrument settings, such as laser output or irrigation/suction flow, to maintain a desired temperature, thereby preventing thermal damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual temperature adjustment is used, then temperature control is simple to operate, but temperature control precision and speed are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic feedback control by continuously monitoring surgical site temperature through sensors and adjusting laser output parameters accordingly. The controller receives real-time temperature data and automatically modulates laser energy delivery to maintain temperature within safe thresholds, eliminating the need for manual intervention while achieving precise temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature control system operates autonomously by self-regulating laser output based on real-time temperature measurements. The system serves itself by automatically detecting temperature conditions and adjusting its own operational parameters without external intervention, thereby achieving both precision and operational simplicity.
2Device complexity
If manual temperature adjustment is used, then device complexity is low, but temperature control speed is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic feedback control system continuously monitors temperature and instantly adjusts laser output parameters in response to temperature changes. This real-time feedback loop enables rapid temperature control by automatically detecting thermal conditions and modulating energy delivery without the delays inherent in manual adjustment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment with automated electronic control. The controller circuit electronically modulates laser output parameters based on temperature sensor data, substituting manual mechanical operations with automated electronic systems that achieve faster response times and more precise control.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If laser output intensity is reduced to control temperature, then thermal damage is prevented, but therapy efficiency is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic pulsed laser delivery with varying duty cycles to maintain therapeutic effectiveness while controlling thermal accumulation. By delivering laser energy in controlled pulses rather than continuous exposure, the system achieves adequate thermal relief to prevent tissue damage while maintaining sufficient energy delivery to preserve therapy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser output parameters are dynamically adjusted in real-time based on temperature feedback. The system continuously modulates laser power, pulse duration, and repetition rate to optimize the balance between therapeutic efficacy and thermal safety, allowing high power delivery when temperatures are safe and automatic reduction when thermal thresholds are approached.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If manual instrument shutdown is used for temperature control, then thermal damage is avoided, but procedure time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic temperature control system enables continuous laser therapy delivery without interruption by continuously monitoring temperature and dynamically adjusting output parameters. This eliminates the need to shut off the laser instrument manually, maintaining continuous therapeutic action while preventing thermal damage through automated real-time parameter modulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous feedback control allows the laser to operate continuously at optimized power levels rather than requiring periodic shutdowns. The system receives continuous temperature feedback and automatically adjusts laser output to prevent thermal accumulation, enabling uninterrupted therapy delivery that reduces overall procedure time while maintaining thermal safety.
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 approach provides more precise and faster temperature control, reducing tissue thermal damage and maintaining therapy efficacy without discontinuing energy output.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor for measuring temperatures at the surgical site at different times during the procedure
Implementation Method 2
generate a temperature trend or a prediction of future temperature at the surgical site using the temperature measurements at the different times
Implementation Method 3
an endoscopic surgical device for delivering energy to an anatomical target at a surgical site during a procedure
Implementation Method 4
Heat buildup is a potentially hazardous consequence of laser irradiation of an anatomical or calculi target
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for automatic control of surgical site temperature during an endoscopic procedure are disclosed. An exemplary endoscopic surgical system comprises a endoscopic surgical device controllably coupled to a medical instrument to deliver energy to an anatomical target at a surgical site, a temperature sensor to measure temperatures at the surgical site at different times during the procedure, and a controller circuit to generate a temperature trend or a prediction of future temperature at the surgical site using the temperature measurements. Based at least in part on the generated temperature trend or the prediction of future temperature at the surgical site, the controller circuit can adjust at least one operating parameter associated with the endoscopic surgical system to achieve or maintain substantially a desired temperature at the surgical site during the procedure to prevent, or reduce the severity of, laser-induced tissue thermal damage.