Multifunctional Electrode for Surgical Smoke Ionization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical smoke removal methods are inadequate, as they often fail to filter out debris during laparoscopic procedures, leading to obscured views and potential health hazards for surgical staff, and are costly due to expensive filters.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional medical device with electrodes configured to form both a DC circuit for ionizing and attracting debris and an RF circuit for surgical procedures, using high voltage DC electricity and surgical RF energy to ionize, attract, and remove smoke and other particles from the surgical site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional vacuum smoke removal methods are used, then smoke can be removed from the surgical site, but expensive filters are required and debris is not effectively filtered out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical vacuum filtration system with an electrostatic precipitation system. Instead of using mechanical filters to capture smoke particles, the invention uses electric fields to ionize particles and attract them to charged electrodes, thereby eliminating the need for expensive mechanical filters while maintaining effective smoke and debris removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and electrical properties of smoke particles by ionizing them through exposure to electric fields. This parameter change allows particles to be manipulated and collected through electrostatic attraction rather than mechanical filtration, resolving the contradiction between effective removal and filter cost.
2Reliability
If vacuum smoke removal is used during laparoscopic procedures, then smoke can be extracted, but debris is not effectively filtered and may permeate into the operating theatre
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical filtration with electrostatic precipitation to achieve effective debris filtration. The electrostatic system ionizes smoke and debris particles, causing them to be attracted to and collected on charged electrodes, providing reliable filtration without the limitations of conventional vacuum systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful smoke and debris particles into beneficially collected material by ionizing them and attracting them to electrodes. This process transforms the harmful aerosol into collected particles on electrodes, effectively filtering debris and preventing it from permeating into the operating theatre.
3Reliability
If separate devices are used for surgical procedures and smoke removal, then each function can be optimized, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the surgical electrode and smoke removal electrode into a single integrated device. The surgical electrode performs cutting or coagulation functions while the same or adjacent electrodes serve as collection electrodes for smoke and debris removal. This integration eliminates the need for separate smoke suction devices while maintaining optimal performance of both functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a multifunctional electrode that serves dual purposes: performing surgical functions (cutting, coagulation) and smoke/debris removal. This universal electrode design reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for separate specialized devices while maintaining the reliability of both surgical and smoke removal functions.
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
Effectively clears surgical smoke and debris, improving visibility and safety while potentially reducing costs by integrating smoke removal with surgical functions within a single device.
Implementation Method 1
the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to be in electrical communication with opposite poles of a source of high voltage dc electricity to form a dc circuit to ionize, attract, collect, remove, and/or reduce debris generated at a surgical site
Implementation Method 2
the first or the second electrode is also configured to be in electrical communication with a source of surgical radio frequency energy to form a RF circuit to perform a surgical procedure or operation on the subject
Data Source
AI summary
A multifunctional medical device, apparatus or system that is capable of perforating a surgical procedure or operation and also capable of attracting, collecting, removing or reducing debris generated by the surgical procedure or operation, on a subject The apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes, two of which are configured to be in electrical communication with or being electrically connectable to opposite poles of a source of high voltage dc electricity to ionize, attract, collect, and remove or reduce debris. At least one of the electrodes is also configured to be part of a RF circuit to perform a surgical procedure or operation such as tissue cutting, cauterization tissue sealing or coagulating at a surgical site on the subject.