Optical Sensor Electronics in Electrosurgical Pass-Through Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrosurgical instruments lack efficient integration of optical sensors for real-time tissue detection and feedback during procedures, which can affect precision and safety.
Innovation Solution
The integration of optical sensor electronics within a pass-through device, such as a pass-through box or cable plug, that enables both RF energy delivery and optical detection, allowing for real-time tissue status monitoring and feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical sensors are integrated into the electrosurgical instrument, then real-time tissue detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places optical sensor electronics inside a pass-through device that is nested within the electrosurgical instrument's cable assembly. The pass-through device contains optical components, light sources, and detectors that are integrated into the existing cable structure, allowing real-time tissue detection without adding external components to the instrument shaft or handle.
Solution Approach 2:
The pass-through device serves multiple functions: it delivers RF energy to the tissue, transmits light to optical sensors, and carries detection signals back to the control system. By combining these functions in a single integrated component, the patent avoids increasing overall device complexity while enabling real-time tissue monitoring.
2Loss of information
If optical sensor electronics are integrated into the pass-through device, then real-time feedback is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates optical sensor electronics into the pass-through device during the manufacturing process, before the instrument is assembled and sterilized. Light sources, optical fibers, and detectors are pre-positioned and connected within the pass-through device housing, simplifying final assembly and ensuring proper alignment for real-time feedback functionality.
3Measurement precision
If optical components are added to the instrument, then tissue status monitoring is improved, but instrument size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests optical components within the existing cable and pass-through device structure. Optical fibers, light sources, and detectors are integrated into the cable assembly's internal volume, utilizing unused space within the existing instrument footprint rather than adding external components that would increase overall size.
4Manufacturing precision
If optical sensor integration is implemented, then surgical precision is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pass-through device is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: RF energy delivery, optical illumination, and tissue detection. By consolidating these functions into a single integrated component rather than separate modules, the patent reduces the total number of parts, simplifies assembly, and lowers overall manufacturing cost while maintaining surgical precision.
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 integration enhances the precision and safety of electrosurgical procedures by providing real-time tissue detection and feedback, reducing the size and cost of the instrument while maintaining compatibility with multiple configurations and allowing for easy upgrade of electronics.
Implementation Method 1
optical sensor for detecting the tissue
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical system includes a surgical instrument, including a shaft assembly having a distal end and an end effector at the distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw movably coupled relative to the first jaw for clamping tissue therebetween, and an optical sensor for detecting the tissue. The surgical system also includes a generator configured to supply a therapeutic energy to the first jaw or the second jaw, and a pass-through device configured to be connected between the surgical instrument and the generator. The pass-through device includes a therapeutic energy connector configured to operatively couple the generator to the surgical instrument for transmitting the therapeutic energy from the generator to the first jaw or the second jaw, and at least one optical component configured to transmit light to the optical sensor and to receive light from the optical sensor.