Hand-Worn Electrosurgical Device Tactile Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical methods for precise dissection of soft tissue lack adequate tactile feedback and precision, especially in procedures involving benign and malignant lesions where exact location is critical.
Innovation Solution
A hand-worn electrosurgical device that provides tactile feedback by delivering electrical energy through the wearer's fingertip, with heat dissipation properties and minimal loss of tactile feedback, allowing for precise dissection in both monopolar and bipolar modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional surgical methods are used for soft tissue dissection, then visual inspection is the primary guidance method, but tactile feedback is limited and precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements tactile feedback by allowing the surgeon to feel tissue properties through the electrosurgical device held in the hand. The device provides real-time tactile information about tissue characteristics, resistance, and dissection progress, enabling the surgeon to sense tissue differentiation and adjust dissection accordingly, thus resolving the information loss in conventional visual-only methods
Solution Approach 2:
The electrosurgical device acts as an intermediary between the surgeon and the tissue, transmitting tactile information through the handheld instrument. The device mediates the interaction by allowing force application and tactile sensing while delivering electrosurgical energy, bridging the gap between manual manipulation and precise energy delivery
2Loss of information
If electrosurgical energy is delivered through the wearer's fingertip, then tactile feedback is enhanced, but heat energy may be passed to the wearer
Solution Approach 1:
A thermal barrier or insulating layer is introduced as an intermediary between the electrosurgical electrode and the wearer's fingertip. This intermediary allows tactile feedback to pass through while blocking harmful heat energy, enabling safe hand-worn electrosurgery with preserved tactile sensation
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible thermal barrier film or shell is placed between the electrode and the finger, allowing tactile transmission while providing thermal protection. This thin flexible barrier maintains the tactile connection necessary for feedback while preventing heat transfer to the wearer
3Productivity
If monopolar electrosurgery is used with high voltage and low duty cycle, then dissection capability is achieved, but thermal damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by switching between monopolar (high voltage, low duty cycle) and bipolar (low voltage, high duty cycle) electrosurgical modes depending on the surgical requirements. This allows optimization of dissection capability while controlling thermal damage risk by selecting appropriate electrical parameters for each situation
4Object-affected harmful factors
If bipolar electrosurgery is used with low voltage and high duty cycle, then thermal damage is reduced, but dissection efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables dynamic parameter changes between bipolar and monopolar modes, allowing the surgeon to select bipolar mode (low voltage, high duty cycle) when thermal damage must be minimized and monopolar mode (high voltage, low duty cycle) when dissection efficiency is the priority, thus resolving the trade-off between safety and productivity
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 device enables precise and controlled dissection with enhanced tactile feedback, improving surgical outcomes by allowing surgeons to accurately dissect tissues based on feel rather than visual inspection alone.
Implementation Method 1
the conductive member receives current through the electrical lead and performs at least one of dissection or electrocauterization along an exposed portion of the conductive member
Implementation Method 2
with heat dissipation properties resulting in minimal heat energy being passed on to the wearer
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein is a method, apparatus, and system for precise dissection of soft tissue, and more particularly, to the use of a hand-worn device to facilitate dissection while providing tactile feedback to a wearer. Methods include receiving an indication of resistance between at least two leads; establishing a mode of operation based on the indication of resistance; receiving an indication of activation; and providing a current at a voltage and duty cycle based on the mode of operation established to at least one of the at least two leads for electrosurgery. The at least two leads of some embodiments include two electrosurgical devices, where receiving an indication of resistance between the two electrosurgical devices includes receiving an indication of infinite resistance between the two electrosurgical devices, and where the mode of operation is established as bipolar dissection between the two electrosurgical devices.