Surgical Forceps Fluid Chamber Tissue Division
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic surgical procedures face challenges in sealing and dividing larger blood vessels due to spatial constraints, often requiring conversion to open surgery, which compromises the benefits of minimally invasive techniques.
Innovation Solution
A surgical forceps design featuring moveable jaw members with integrated electrosurgical energy and a chamber system that retains fluid, which heats and expands to thermally divide tissue, allowing for both sealing and dividing of vessels through controlled pressure and energy application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If endoscopic instruments are designed to fit through smaller cannulas, then minimally invasive surgery benefits are improved, but the capability to seal and divide larger vessels is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines electrosurgical sealing capability and fluid-pressure division capability into a single endoscopic forceps instrument. The jaw members integrate both electrosurgical energy application for sealing and fluid retention chambers for pressure-based division, allowing one instrument to perform multiple functions that traditionally required separate tools or open surgery approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The forceps instrument is designed with multi-functionality to handle various vessel sizes and tissue types. The same device can seal vessels using electrosurgical energy and divide them using fluid pressure, making it universally applicable for both small and large vessel management in minimally invasive procedures without requiring conversion to open surgery.
2Reliability
If traditional electrosurgical forceps are used for sealing, then vessel sealing is achieved, but additional cutting mechanisms are required for division
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing process itself generates the division mechanism. The electrosurgical energy applied to seal the vessel also heats and expands the fluid within the retention chamber, creating pressure that automatically divides the vessel. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate cutting mechanisms, as the sealing action inherently produces the division effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of the fluid within the retention chamber. The fluid (typically water or saline) undergoes phase change from liquid to vapor due to electrosurgical heating, causing rapid expansion and pressure buildup that divides the tissue. This phase transition mechanism replaces traditional mechanical cutting blades or knives.
3Ease of operation
If larger vessels are ligated endoscopically, then minimally invasive benefits are maintained, but spatial constraints make traditional suturing and clamping difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical suturing and clamping systems with electrosurgical energy application and fluid pressure. Instead of mechanically clamping or suturing larger vessels through small cannulas, the system uses electrical energy to seal vessels and fluid pressure to divide them, overcoming the spatial constraints of endoscopic access while maintaining the ability to handle larger vessel sizes.
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
Enables efficient sealing and division of tissue within smaller incisions, maintaining the benefits of minimally invasive surgery by simultaneously applying electrosurgical energy for sealing and thermally expanding fluid to divide tissue, reducing the need for additional cutting mechanisms and facilitating reduced instrument diameters.
Implementation Method 1
Upon the application of electrosurgical energy to the jaw member(s), fluid disposed within the chamber is heated
Implementation Method 2
fluid disposed within the chamber is heated to thermally expand within the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A forceps includes an end effector assembly. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members. At least one of the jaws is moveable with respect to the other between a spaced-apart position and at least one approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. At least one of the jaw members is adapted to connect to a source of energy for sealing tissue disposed between the jaw members. A chamber is defined within and extends longitudinally along at least one of the jaw members. The chamber is configured to retain a fluid therein and includes a series of apertures disposed on a tissue-facing surface thereof such that, upon application of energy to the jaw member(s), fluid within the chamber is heated to thermally expand within the chamber and forcefully exit the apertures to divide tissue disposed between the jaw members.