Surgical Forceps Seal Plate Width Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive surgical procedures, such as NOTES, face challenges in achieving high seal pressure with reduced access area, as the size of jaw members decreases, making it difficult to effectively seal vessels without applying excessive or insufficient pressure, which can lead to tissue impedance issues.
Innovation Solution
A surgical forceps with an end effector assembly featuring moveable jaw members and a sensing component to determine tissue diameter and composition, coupled with an expanding component that adjusts the seal plate width based on the determined output, ensuring a pre-determined seal pressure is applied across varying vessel sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the size of jaw members is reduced for minimally invasive surgery, then patient scarring and healing time are reduced, but the ability to achieve high seal pressure on vessels deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seal plate width is made dynamically adjustable based on the detected vessel diameter. The system transitions from a static seal plate design to a dynamic one where the width can be modified in real-time to match the vessel size, enabling adequate seal pressure to be achieved despite the reduced jaw member size required for minimally invasive access
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of seal plate width to optimize seal pressure. By adjusting this parameter according to the detected vessel diameter, the system compensates for the reduced mechanical advantage inherent in smaller jaw members, ensuring effective sealing across different vessel sizes without requiring excessive compression force
2Reliability
If seal pressure is increased to adequately seal vessels, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but tissue impedance increases and seal damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a sensing component that detects vessel diameter and provides feedback to the control system. This feedback loop enables the seal plate width to be adjusted according to the actual vessel size, allowing the application of appropriate seal pressure that is sufficient for effective sealing without exceeding tissue tolerance and causing impedance issues or seal damage
Solution Approach 2:
The seal plate width is customized to match the local characteristics of each vessel being sealed. Rather than applying a uniform high pressure to all vessels, the system adjusts the seal plate width locally to correspond to the detected vessel diameter, distributing the sealing force appropriately to achieve reliable seals without causing tissue damage
3Device complexity
If a single pre-determined seal pressure is applied, then device complexity is reduced, but sealing effectiveness varies with vessel size
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment by detecting the vessel diameter and automatically modifying the seal plate width accordingly. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex manual pressure regulation mechanisms while maintaining adaptability across different vessel sizes, as the system autonomously optimizes the sealing parameters based on real-time detection
Solution Approach 2:
The seal plate width is made dynamically adjustable based on the detected vessel diameter. The system transitions from a static seal plate design to a dynamic one where the width can be modified in real-time to match the vessel size, enabling adequate seal pressure to be achieved despite the reduced jaw member size required for minimally invasive access
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 forceps effectively seals tissues by adjusting seal plate widths according to tissue characteristics, allowing a consistent pre-determined seal pressure to be applied across different vessel sizes, reducing the risk of improper or damaged seals.
Implementation Method 1
The electrodes are configured to measure an electrical characteristic of tissue disposed between the jaw members, thereby determining the diameter of tissue or the composition of tissue disposed therebetween. In one embodiment, the electrical characteristic is impedance.
Implementation Method 2
The expanding component includes a shape memory alloy. The shape memory alloy is configured to expand the widths of the seal plates when heated. The shape memory alloy is further configured to allow the seal plates to return to an un-expanded width when cooled.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical forceps includes a housing having a shaft attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members having opposed seal plates, each of the seal plates having a width. At least one of the jaw members is moveable from an open position to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. A sensing component is configured to determine an output relating to a diameter of tissue or a composition of tissue disposed between the opposed seal plates of the first and second jaw members. An expanding component is configured to expand the width of at least one of the opposed seal plates according to the determined output.