Motor Control Mechanism for Powered Surgical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Powered surgical devices lack control and feedback, leading to difficulties in operating thick or tough tissue, excessive heating, and reduced precision due to inadequate motor control and tactile feedback, overwhelming operators with multiple control requirements.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a motor control mechanism that dynamically adjusts power output based on user input, providing proportional control and tactile feedback, mimicking manual operation without the physical exertion, through mechanisms like potentiometers and trigger actuation, to enhance user experience and precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If electric motors are used to provide actuation force in surgical devices, then the force required from the user is reduced, but control and tactile feedback are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms including tactile feedback through the trigger assembly and visual feedback through displays that show cutting element position, tissue engagement status, and motor operation state. This allows the user to maintain situational awareness and control while using motor assistance to reduce physical exertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary control system between the user and the motor, including microprocessors, sensors, and control algorithms that translate user input into precise motor control. This intermediary layer maintains the intuitive control feel of manual operation while leveraging motor power for actuation.
2Force
If binary actuation buttons or switches are used in electrically-powered devices, then the device can be operated with minimal force, but feedback on the progress of cutting and sealing operations is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements comprehensive feedback systems including tactile feedback through the trigger assembly that resists further depression when cutting elements engage tissue, visual feedback through displays showing real-time operation status, and auditory feedback through alarms or signals that indicate specific operational states such as cutting element engagement or RF energy delivery status.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical feedback mechanisms with electronic and sensor-based systems that can provide multiple types of feedback simultaneously without increasing physical complexity. Sensors detect cutting element position, tissue engagement, and motor status, translating this information into user-comprehensible feedback formats.
3Power
If motor power is increased to handle thick or tough tissue, then cutting capability is improved, but excessive heating within the device occurs during stall conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control systems with sensors that continuously monitor motor current, temperature, and cutting element position. When stall conditions are detected through increased current draw or temperature rise, the control system automatically adjusts motor power output or triggers alerts to the user, preventing excessive heating while maintaining adequate power for cutting through tough tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic motor control that adjusts power output in real-time based on operational conditions. The motor controller modulates power delivery to match actual cutting requirements, providing high power when needed for tough tissue but reducing power during stall conditions to prevent overheating, rather than operating at fixed high power levels.
4Measurement precision
If multiple separate controls are provided for motor operation and RF energy delivery, then control precision is improved, but the operator is overwhelmed by the number of controls to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control functions into integrated control assemblies, such as a trigger assembly that simultaneously controls motor actuation, RF energy delivery, and cutting element deployment. This merging reduces the number of separate controls the user must manage while maintaining precise control over each function through electronic control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functional control elements where a single control mechanism performs multiple functions. For example, the trigger assembly serves as a universal control that can initiate motor-driven cutting, activate RF energy delivery for sealing, and control compression member actuation, thereby reducing overall device complexity while preserving control precision through electronic coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical devices and methods are described herein that provide improved motor control and feedback, thereby combining advantages of manually-operated and powered surgical devices. In one embodiment, a surgical device includes a proximal handle portion that includes a motor, a distal end effector coupled to the handle portion, and a cutting element configured to cut tissue engaged by the end effector, wherein the motor is configured to supply power that moves the cutting element. The device also includes a motor control mechanism configured to cause the amount of the power to dynamically change in response to a manual user input when the cutting element is moving.