Jaw Aperture Sensor for Electrosurgical Forceps Gap Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgeons face difficulties in accurately determining the gap distance between electrodes in electrosurgical forceps, which is crucial for effective tissue sealing, due to visualization challenges in bloody surgical fields and mechanical limitations that restrict the instrument's versatility.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a position sensor within the electrosurgical forceps to detect the gap distance between jaw members, providing feedback when the distance is within an acceptable range for safe energy application, and preventing energy delivery when the gap is outside the acceptable limit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical limits are imposed on jaw aperture to prevent use on vessels beyond forceps limits, then safety is improved, but versatility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a sensor that detects jaw aperture position and provides feedback to the control system. When the gap distance exceeds the acceptable range, the system automatically prevents energy delivery, ensuring safety without requiring mechanical limits. This feedback mechanism allows the forceps to maintain full mechanical range of motion while enforcing safety constraints through electronic control, thereby preserving versatility.
2Device complexity
If visual determination of gap distance is attempted in bloody surgical fields, then no additional device complexity is added, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual method of gap distance determination with an electronic sensing system. A sensor (such as an optical, magnetic, or capacitive sensor) directly measures the jaw aperture position or gap distance, providing precise quantitative data regardless of visual conditions in the surgical field. This substitution eliminates the limitations of visual assessment while adding manageable device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If jaw aperture is mechanically limited to ensure appropriate seal closure, then seal quality is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system uses sensor feedback to monitor jaw aperture position in real-time. When the gap distance is within the acceptable range for effective sealing, the system permits energy delivery. When the gap exceeds this range, the system prevents energy application. This electronic feedback control ensures consistent seal quality while allowing the surgeon to operate the forceps through its full mechanical range, improving ease of operation compared to mechanical limits.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument including a housing, a shaft, and end effector, and a sensor. The shaft extends distally from the housing. The end effector is disposed at a distal end of the shaft and includes first and second jaw members that are moveable relative between first and second configurations. The first and second jaw members are spaced relative to one another in the first configuration and are closer to one another for approximating tissue in the second configuration. A gap distance is defined between the first and second jaw members. The sensor is positioned within the housing and operable to determine the size of the gap distance. The first and second jaw members configured to be electrical activated to treat tissue between the first and second jaw members when the size of the gap distance is within an acceptable range.