Optical Vessel Sizing at Surgical Instrument Tips Without Contrast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical methods struggle to accurately determine the presence, size, and edges of blood vessels during minimally-invasive procedures, leading to potential vascular damage and increased surgical risks, especially due to the loss of tactile sensation and direct visualization, and require contrast agents that complicate procedures and pose patient risks.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system using a light emitter and sensor array at the instrument's end to analyze pulsatile and non-pulsatile light components, determining vessel size and edges through a controller that separates and quantifies these components to provide real-time information without contrast agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tactile sensation and direct visualization methods are used to identify blood vessels, then the surgeon can directly sense and visualize vessels, but these methods are lost in minimally-invasive procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/tactile sensing system (surgeon's touch and direct vision) with an optical sensing system. Light emitters transmit light through tissue and sensors detect the transmitted light, converting biological optical properties into electrical signals that indicate vessel presence, thereby restoring vessel identification capability in minimally-invasive procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light as an intermediary medium between the surgical instrument and the blood vessels. Light emitters send light through the tissue, and sensors detect changes in light transmission caused by vessels, allowing indirect detection of vessels that cannot be directly visualized or touched
2Measurement precision
If contrast agents are used to identify vasculature, then vessel detection accuracy is improved, but procedure complexity and patient risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for contrast agents from the vessel detection process. By utilizing the intrinsic optical properties of blood and tissue (light absorption and scattering characteristics), the system achieves vessel detection without requiring external contrast media, thereby simplifying the procedure and reducing patient risk
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the tissue and blood to serve themselves as the detection medium. The natural optical properties of hemoglobin in blood and tissue structures provide the contrast needed for vessel identification, eliminating the need for external contrast agents and reducing procedural complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If thermal ligature devices are used on vessels outside the approved size range, then the device can be used on larger vessels, but seal failure rate increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary measurement and characterization of the vessel before applying the thermal ligature device. By detecting vessel size, position, and depth in advance using light transmission analysis, the system ensures the vessel falls within the safe operating range of the thermal device, preventing seal failures before they occur
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements real-time feedback during the surgical procedure. The light sensors continuously monitor tissue optical properties and provide feedback to the surgeon about vessel location and characteristics, allowing adjustment of device placement and parameters to ensure safe and effective vessel sealing
4Measurement precision
If considerable time is required for vessel analysis, then accurate vessel characterization is achieved, but real-time information delivery is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic light pulses from the light emitters to probe the tissue. By sending repeated light pulses and analyzing the transmitted light in real-time, the system continuously updates vessel information without requiring lengthy analysis periods, maintaining both accuracy and real-time performance
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
Enables accurate and real-time detection of vessel size and edges, reducing vascular damage risks and procedural complexity, enhancing surgical precision and safety, and minimizing delays and medical waste.
Implementation Method 1
the signal generated by the sensor array includes a pulsating and a non-pulsating component
Implementation Method 2
light transmitted to a sensor array to generate a signal
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical system used to determine a size of a vessel within a region proximate to a working end of a surgical instrument includes at least one light emitter disposed at the working end, an array of light sensors disposed opposite the at least one light emitter, the array comprising a least one row of light sensors, individual light sensors in the row adapted to generate a signal comprising a pulsatile and a non-pulsatile component, and a controller coupled to the array, the controller comprising a splitter to separate the pulsatile component from the non-pulsatile component, and an analyzer to determine the magnitudes of the pulsatile and non-pulsatile components at the individual light sensors, to determine a first peak magnitude and a second peak magnitude of the pulsatile components, and to determine a resting outer diameter of the vessel based on the first and second peak magnitudes.