Fluid-Coupled Electrosurgical Scissors for Tissue Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrosurgical devices face issues such as tissue desiccation, sticking to electrodes, coagulum build-up, tissue perforation, char formation, and smoke generation due to high tissue temperatures and the need for precise positioning of bipolar tools, which limit their range of motion and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The use of radio frequency electrical power coupled with a fluid passage in electrosurgical scissors to inhibit these undesirable effects by maintaining tissue temperature below 100°C and providing a fluid coupling between the blades and tissue, allowing for effective coagulation and cutting while reducing the risk of tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If bipolar electrosurgical scissors are used to eliminate current flow through patient to ground pad, then patient safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for electrical isolation of active terminal from return terminal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an electrically insulating fluid as an intermediary medium between the active electrode and the tissue. This fluid couples electrical energy to the tissue without requiring direct contact between the active electrode and tissue, thereby eliminating the need for complex electrical isolation structures while maintaining patient safety. The insulating fluid serves as a mediator that enables safe bipolar electrosurgical operation.
2Ease of operation
If monopolar electrosurgical tools are used to allow current flow through patient to ground pad, then ease of operation is improved with ability to apply current from many angles, but harmful factors increase due to current flow through patient body
Solution Approach 1:
The electrically insulating fluid acts as a mediator that enables monopolar-like ease of operation while eliminating the harmful current flow through the patient. The fluid couples the active electrode to the tissue, allowing the surgeon to apply electrosurgical current from various angles without current flowing through the patient's body to a ground pad.
3Productivity
If dry tip electrosurgical devices are used to provide electrical contact with tissue, then coagulation effectiveness is improved, but harmful factors increase due to tissue temperature exceeding 100°C causing desiccation, sticking, and smoke generation
Solution Approach 1:
The electrically insulating fluid serves as a thermal mediator between the active electrode and the tissue. It couples electrical energy to the tissue for effective coagulation while simultaneously acting as a heat sink to prevent excessive temperature buildup. This prevents tissue desiccation, sticking, and smoke generation that occur with dry tip devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of the electrically insulating fluid from liquid to vapor at 100°C. This phase change absorbs excess heat energy through latent heat of vaporization, effectively controlling tissue temperature and preventing thermal damage while maintaining coagulation effectiveness.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If active electrode size is decreased to only confronting surfaces to restrict current flow, then harmful factors are reduced, but device complexity increases due to need for insulative material coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The electrically insulating fluid eliminates the need for physical insulative material coverage on the electrodes. By introducing the fluid intermediary, the system achieves restricted current flow to only the confronting surfaces without requiring complex insulative structures, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining 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 enables efficient coagulation and cutting of tissues with reduced risk of desiccation, sticking, and smoke generation, allowing for broader surgical angles and improved tissue handling, thereby minimizing blood loss and post-operative complications.
Implementation Method 1
radio frequency electrical power from a device is coupled to tissue through a coupling of fluid
Implementation Method 2
the temperature of tissue being treated may rise significantly higher than 100° C.... One attempt with monopolar scissors, in order to restrict the electric current flow through the patient, has been to decrease the size of the active electrode
Data Source
AI summary
An electrosurgical scissors comprising an end effector comprising a first blade member and a second blade member, the first blade member and the second blade member pivotally connected; an electrical connector configured to couple the scissors to a power source; and a fluid passage in fluid communication with at least one fluid outlet.