Replaceable Laparoscopic Oximeter Extension for Rapid Tissue Oximetry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oximeters face challenges in improving form factor, measurement accuracy, reducing measurement time, lowering cost, and reducing size and power consumption, particularly in clinical settings where rapid and accurate oxygen saturation measurements are crucial for assessing tissue health.
Innovation Solution
A laparoscopic medical device with a removable oximeter sensor and separable electronics, utilizing a sensor head for quick tissue oximetry measurements, and wireless communication with a system unit for processing and display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing oximeters are used for rapid intraoperative measurements, then measurement speed is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates under nonideal conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The oximeter is divided into two distinct parts: a reusable electronics portion containing processing circuits and a disposable sensor portion containing light sources and detectors. This segmentation allows the sensor to be optimized for rapid measurement while the electronics provide accurate processing, resolving the contradiction between speed and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor portion is designed as a disposable component that can be sterilized and used multiple times or discarded after use. This allows for rapid deployment of fresh sensors in each surgical procedure, ensuring accurate measurements without the need for complex recalibration or maintenance of the sensing elements.
2Ease of operation
If oximeter size is reduced for minimally invasive use, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the sensor head from the electronics housing, the sensor portion can be made compact for minimally invasive insertion while the electronics can be housed in a separate, larger unit that provides adequate processing power and measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a connector as an intermediary element that couples the small sensor head to the larger electronics housing. This connector enables the transmission of optical and electrical signals between the compact sensor and the more substantial processing unit, allowing small size at the insertion point without sacrificing measurement capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If oximeter cost is reduced for widespread use, then ease of manufacture is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor portion is designed as a low-cost disposable component that can be manufactured economically using standard semiconductor fabrication processes. The reusable electronics portion contains the expensive precision circuits, but this is amortized over multiple sensor uses. This division allows the disposable sensor to be manufactured at low cost while maintaining measurement accuracy through the sophisticated electronics.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable sensor portion is discarded after use or after a limited number of sterilizations, eliminating the need for expensive maintenance, calibration, and quality control of the sensing elements. The valuable electronics are recovered and reused with multiple sensor portions, reducing overall system cost while maintaining accuracy.
4Productivity
If measurement time is reduced for rapid tissue assessment, then productivity is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor portion is pre-assembled with light sources and detectors in a compact configuration that requires minimal setup time. The disposable nature of the sensor allows it to be pre-calibrated during manufacturing, eliminating the need for time-consuming preoperative calibration in the surgical setting. This preliminary preparation enables rapid deployment without sacrificing measurement accuracy.
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 rapid, accurate, and cost-effective oxygen saturation measurements in challenging conditions, facilitating reusable electronics and disposable sensor components for improved surgical and medical applications.
Implementation Method 1
Light absorption differs significantly for oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobins at certain wavelengths of light. Tissue oximeters can measure oxygen levels in human tissue by exploiting these light-absorption differences.
Data Source
AI summary
A laparoscopic medical device includes an oximeter sensor at its tip, which allows the making of oxygen saturation measurements laparoscopically. The device can be a unitary design, wherein a laparoscopic element includes electronics for the oximeter sensor at a distal end (e.g., opposite the tip). The device can be a multiple piece design (e.g., two-piece design), where some electronics is in a separate housing from the laparoscopic element, and the pieces (or portions) are removably connected together. The laparoscopic element can be removed and disposed of; so, the electronics can be reused multiple times with replacement laparoscopic elements. The electronics can include a processing unit for control, computation, or display, or any combination of these. However, in an implementation, the electronics can connect wirelessly to other electronics (e.g., another processing unit) for further control, computation, or display, or any combination of these.