Optical Firing Rod Motion Sensing in Surgical Instruments

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical instruments require significant manual force to clamp and deploy surgical fasteners, leading to surgeon fatigue, and existing sensors contribute to mechanical wear, complexity, size, and weight, making them less reliable and maneuverable during procedures.

Innovation Solution

A surgical instrument with a motion sensor that senses light reflected from the firing rod, allowing for precise control of the firing rod's motion without mechanical interaction, reducing wear and simplifying the design for improved maneuverability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional rotational sensors with mechanical encoders are used to sense firing rod motion, then measurement precision is achieved, but device complexity and mechanical wear increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiring rod motion measurementVSAvoidsensor mechanical complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical rotational sensors with optical sensors that detect light reflection patterns on the firing rod. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact components like encoder wheels and photo interrupters, reducing mechanical wear and device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through optical detection of firing rod position and velocity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces light reflection patterns as an intermediary medium between the firing rod and sensor. By placing reflective markings on the firing rod and detecting their optical patterns, the system achieves precise motion measurement without direct mechanical interaction, thereby reducing complexity and wear

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If conventional rotational sensors are used to control firing mechanism, then motion control is achieved, but mechanical wear and reduced reliability occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiring mechanism controlVSAvoidsensor reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical rotational sensors that physically contact moving components with optical sensors that detect light reflection patterns. This eliminates mechanical wear from repeated contact, improving reliability while maintaining the ability to control the firing mechanism through precise detection of firing rod position and velocity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If conventional sensors with mechanical components are used, then motion sensing is achieved, but size and weight of surgical instrument increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelinear motion parameter sensingVSAvoidsurgical instrument weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces heavy mechanical rotational sensors with compact optical sensors that detect light reflection patterns. This substitution significantly reduces the weight and size of the sensing system while maintaining precise measurement of firing rod linear motion parameters, improving the overall maneuverability of the surgical instrument

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Productivity

If manual force is used to clamp and deploy surgical fasteners, then surgical procedure is performed, but surgeon fatigue increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical procedure performanceVSAvoidsurgeon fatigue

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control system where optical sensors continuously monitor firing rod position and velocity, and the controller adjusts motor commands based on this feedback. This closed-loop control enables precise automated operation of the surgical instrument, reducing the manual force required and eliminating surgeon fatigue while maintaining surgical procedure performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 solution reduces mechanical wear, simplifies the instrument design, and enhances maneuverability during surgical procedures by accurately controlling the firing rod's motion using light reflection sensing, thereby reducing surgeon fatigue and improving instrument reliability.

Implementation Method 1

The motion sensor senses a parameter of light reflected from the surface of the firing rod

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS9913644B2Method and apparatus for determining parameters of linear motion in a surgical instrument

Publication Date: 2018.03.13 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

A surgical instrument and method of controlling the surgical instrument are disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a housing and an elongated shaft that extends distally from the housing and defines a first longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument also includes a firing rod disposed in the elongated shaft and a drive mechanism disposed at least partially within the housing. The drive mechanism mechanically cooperates with the firing rod to move the firing rod. A sensor senses a parameter of light reflected from the surface of the firing rod, which includes markings that change the reflectivity of the firing rod. The measurement unit determines a parameter of the motion of the firing rod, such as the position and speed of the firing rod, based on the sensed parameter of the light reflected from the surface of the firing rod.