Handheld Laser Resection Device with Laminar Waterjet Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical resection methods, particularly in orthopedic surgery, face challenges with inefficiency, thermal necrosis, and debris generation due to the anisotropic nature of bone tissue, limiting the rate and depth of bone resection while also posing biohazard risks with mechanical saws and traditional laser systems.
Innovation Solution
A robotically controlled handheld laser resection device incorporating a treatment laser, laser scanner, water nozzle, and inertial measurement unit, which uses a laminar waterjet and optical elements to shape the laser beam into a top-hat profile for precise, efficient bone cutting with depth control and reduced thermal damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If oscillating saws are used for bone resection, then cutting efficiency is improved, but cutting temperature increases causing thermal necrosis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical oscillating saw system with a laser-based cutting system. The laser beam delivers energy to the bone tissue without mechanical contact, eliminating frictional heat generation while maintaining efficient cutting through optical energy conversion to thermal energy at the focal point only.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary medium in the form of a laminar waterjet that carries the laser beam to the bone surface. The water serves multiple functions: it acts as a coupling medium for laser energy delivery, provides localized cooling to prevent thermal necrosis, and washes away bone debris from the cutting zone.
2Productivity
If mechanical saws are used for bone resection, then cutting speed is improved, but bone debris is generated posing biohazard risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cutting with laser ablation, where optical energy directly vaporizes and removes bone tissue without mechanical contact. This process eliminates the generation of bone debris and aerosolized particles that pose biohazard risks to surgical staff.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a high-velocity laminar waterjet to deliver the laser beam and simultaneously flushes the cutting zone with water to remove ablated bone debris. The hydraulic flow prevents debris accumulation and aerosolization, eliminating biohazard risks while maintaining high cutting speed.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional laser systems are used for bone resection, then thermal damage is reduced, but resection depth is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a traditional focused spot laser approach to a line-shaped laser beam delivered through a laminar waterjet. This dimensional change from point to line enables simultaneous ablation along a linear path, achieving greater resection depth while maintaining precise thermal control through the water coupling medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the laser beam parameters by shaping it into a line profile and delivering it through a moving waterjet rather than a static focus. This allows controlled energy distribution along the beam path, enabling deep resection with minimal lateral thermal damage through precise parameter management.
4Manufacturing precision
If laser beam is focused to a small spot, then precision is improved, but resection rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the laser beam from a two-dimensional focused spot to a one-dimensional line shape by delivering it through a laminar waterjet. This maintains precision through the confined water channel while increasing the effective cutting width and resection rate through the extended line geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the laser energy delivery along the length of the laminar waterjet, creating multiple focal points simultaneously distributed along the beam path. This segmentation allows parallel ablation of bone tissue along the entire waterjet length, increasing overall resection rate while maintaining precision at each segment.
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 efficient and precise bone resection with reduced thermal damage and biohazard risks, achieving cutting rates comparable to mechanical methods while minimizing tissue necrosis and debris generation, thus improving surgical efficiency and patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a treatment laser configured to generate a treatment laser beam
Implementation Method 2
optical elements to shape the laser beam into a top-hat profile
Implementation Method 3
a laser scanner configured to direct the treatment laser beam
Implementation Method 4
a water nozzle configured to emit a laminar waterjet
Implementation Method 5
water-cooled during the cutting process due to the impact of frictional heat
Implementation Method 6
an aperture configured to emit the treatment laser beam within the laminar waterjet
Implementation Method 7
an inertial measurement unit, wherein the fine positioning actuator is configured to adjust the positioning of the treatment laser beam based on detected movement by the inertial measurement unit
Data Source
AI summary
A robotically controlled laser resection device is disclosed. The device is configured in a handheld form factor. The device includes a treatment laser configured to generate a treatment laser beam, a laser scanner configured to direct the treatment laser beam, a water nozzle configured to emit a laminar waterjet, and an aperture configured to emit the treatment laser beam within the laminar waterjet. The components may be contained in a housing with electromagnetic shielding. A tracking marker is attached to the housing to allow navigation of the device.