Forceps Blade Deployment Alarm with Electrical Contact Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic electrosurgical forceps designed for small cannulas face design challenges, particularly in ensuring accurate deployment and activation of cutting blades without unnecessary activation of electrosurgical energy, which can lead to improper tissue engagement and increased risk of complications.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of an alarm system within the forceps that emits a signal when the cutting blade is deployed into the blade channel or contacts electrical contacts, independent of the electrosurgical energy activation, utilizing resistors, pressure sensors, optical measurement features, and magnetic sensors to indicate specific operating conditions such as blade deployment and tissue contact, ensuring safe and controlled tissue engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cutting blade is deployed into the blade channel for tissue division, then the ability to cut tissue is improved, but the risk of unintended electrosurgical energy activation and improper tissue engagement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm system is activated in advance when the cutting blade is deployed into the blade channel, before electrosurgical energy activation occurs. This preliminary alarm warning allows the operator to ensure proper tissue engagement before activating the energy source, preventing harmful unintended activation.
2Measurement precision
If an alarm system is added to monitor blade deployment and tissue contact, then the precision and safety of the procedure is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensing systems with electrical sensing mechanisms. Electrical contacts within the blade channel detect blade position and tissue contact through simple electrical circuit completion, rather than requiring complex mechanical switches or sensors, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
3Reliability
If electrical contacts are disposed within the blade channel to detect blade movement and tissue contact, then the reliability of tissue engagement detection is improved, but the risk of electrical interference with the cutting blade increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical contacts are extracted from direct proximity to the cutting blade path and positioned within the blade channel walls at locations that allow detection of blade movement and tissue contact without being in the direct path of the cutting blade. This spatial separation prevents electrical interference with the cutting function while maintaining reliable detection capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrosurgical forceps includes a selectively advanceable knife and a knife deployment alarm configured to emit a signal under predetermined conditions. An alarm is configured to emit a signal when the cutting blade moves relative to the blade channel. A series of resistances are arranged so that a shorting of each resistor is indicative of a predetermined operating condition triggering the alarm to emit a signal. Pressure sensors, optical measurement devices, and electrical contacts are envisioned for determining blade or trigger actuation or translation.