Optical Feedback Tissue Sealing System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy-based surgical systems rely on electrical feedback parameters that are not directly correlated to structural changes in tissue, leading to inaccurate sealing quality during procedures, particularly in the correlation between water content and structural changes in collagen and elastin.
Innovation Solution
The use of optical feedback parameters, such as optical transparency, reflection, absorption, polarization-dependent losses, and anisotropy, to control and optimize energy-based tissue sealing by illuminating the tissue with light and analyzing the modified light to adjust sealing energy parameters like voltage, current, and pulse width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electrical feedback parameters (impedance, phase difference) are used to control tissue sealing, then the control system can regulate energy delivery, but the feedback accuracy is reduced because electrical parameters do not directly correlate with structural changes in collagen and elastin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical feedback mechanisms with optical feedback mechanisms. Instead of using electrical impedance and phase difference measurements, the system employs optical sensors to detect structural changes in tissue directly through light scattering and absorption properties, providing more accurate real-time feedback on actual tissue sealing status
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the feedback parameter from electrical domain (impedance, phase) to optical domain (light scattering, absorption). This parameter transformation enables direct correlation between measured feedback signals and structural changes in collagen and elastin, improving measurement precision of sealing quality
2Reliability
If electrical energy is applied to seal tissue, then tissue sealing can be achieved, but thermal damage and charring may occur due to excessive energy delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time optical feedback control during tissue sealing. Optical sensors continuously monitor structural changes in collagen and elastin, and the control system adjusts energy delivery based on this feedback to achieve optimal sealing while preventing thermal damage and charring
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic adjustment of energy delivery parameters based on real-time optical feedback. The system continuously adapts the electrical energy parameters (voltage, current, pulse duration) according to the measured structural changes in tissue, enabling precise control to avoid thermal damage while ensuring reliable sealing
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
This approach provides more accurate feedback for energy-based tissue sealing, resulting in higher sealing quality and reduced thermal damage by directly correlating optical parameters with structural changes in tissue, ensuring optimal sealing without charring or collateral damage.
Implementation Method 1
sensing light modified by the tissue structure
Implementation Method 2
analyzing the light modified by the tissue structure to determine at least one optical parameter of the tissue structure
Implementation Method 3
high-frequency electrical energy, e.g., radio frequency (RF) energy, is produced by an electrosurgical generator and applied to body tissue
Implementation Method 4
The electrosurgical instrument includes electrodes that deliver the RF energy to the tissue
Implementation Method 5
In the case of ultrasonic surgery, an ultrasonic transducer converts electrical energy to ultrasonic vibrations
Implementation Method 6
ultrasonic vibrations to heat and seal the tissue
Data Source
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AI summary
An energy-based tissue-sealing system and method provide higher sealing quality by measuring and using optical feedback parameters that are directly correlated to structural changes of tissue. The tissue-sealing system includes a sealing energy source, an instrument having a mechanism for grasping and deforming the tissue and for delivering sealing energy to the tissue, a light source, optical sensors, and a controller for controlling parameters of the sealing energy generated by the sealing energy source based upon the optical parameters of the tissue structure sensed by the optical sensors. At the beginning of a sealing procedure, the controller may monitor an initial optical parameter of the tissue and select a target trajectory of tissue optical parameters based on the initial optical parameter. During the sealing procedure, the controller monitors at least one optical parameter of the tissue structure and controls at least one parameter of the sealing energy based on the at least one optical parameter.