Cordless Electrosurgical Device with Removable RF Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrosurgical instruments face challenges in effectively sealing larger blood vessels endoscopically due to difficulties in controlling mechanical parameters like pressure and gap distance between electrodes, leading to inconsistent and unreliable tissue sealing, and require cumbersome tabletop power supplies and controllers.
Innovation Solution
A cordless, power-assisted bipolar cauterization and cutting device with a self-contained power supply and control circuitry, featuring a passively articulating end effector that simplifies tissue sealing and cutting by automatically controlling compression force and energy application, eliminating the need for external power sources and reducing the number of surgical steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electrosurgical instruments are used with tabletop power supplies, then reliable tissue sealing can be achieved, but the device complexity and operational burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the power supply, control circuitry, and electrosurgical instrument into a single integrated cordless device. The battery pack is permanently or removably coupled to the instrument handle, eliminating the need for separate tabletop power supplies and complex external connections, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining tissue sealing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated power supply system enables the instrument to function autonomously without requiring connection to external power sources. The device can perform both cutting and coagulation functions using a single unified system, reducing the need for multiple separate devices and simplifying the surgical setup
2Ease of manufacture
If mechanical clamping pressure alone is used for vessel sealing, then the instrument structure can be simple, but the manufacturing precision and control accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback control mechanisms that monitor the sealing process and automatically adjust the electrosurgical energy delivery based on tissue impedance changes. This ensures consistent sealing thickness and quality without requiring complex mechanical precision, as the electrical feedback loop compensates for variations in mechanical clamping pressure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces reliance on precise mechanical clamping pressure control with an electrical control system that uses feedback from tissue impedance measurements. The electrosurgical energy delivery is automatically modulated to achieve consistent sealing results, substituting mechanical precision requirements with electrical control and sensing
3Productivity
If larger vessels are sealed endoscopically, then the surgical benefits are maintained, but the gap distance control between electrodes becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses real-time feedback from tissue impedance sensing during the sealing process to automatically adjust energy delivery. This feedback mechanism compensates for variations in gap distance between electrodes, allowing effective sealing of larger vessels even when precise mechanical gap control is difficult to achieve in endoscopic conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes the electrosurgical energy parameters (amplitude, duration, pulse frequency) based on real-time tissue impedance measurements and the detected sealing progress. This adaptive parameter adjustment allows the system to maintain effective sealing across a range of gap distances, accommodating the difficulty of precise mechanical control in endoscopic procedures
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 device provides reliable and consistent tissue sealing and cutting with reduced physical effort for the surgeon, enhancing procedural efficiency and eliminating the need for bulky power supplies, while allowing for more precise control over tissue compression and sealing.
Implementation Method 1
electrosurgical forceps utilize both mechanical clamping action and electrical energy to effect hemostasis by heating the tissue and blood vessels to coagulate, cauterize and/or seal tissue
Implementation Method 2
a surgeon can cauterize, coagulate/desiccate, and/or simply reduce or slow bleeding simply by controlling the intensity, frequency, and duration of the electrosurgical energy applied through the jaw members to the tissue
Implementation Method 3
bipolar contacts for receiving the radio-frequency signal
Implementation Method 4
the process of coagulating vessels is fundamentally different from electrosurgical vessel sealing. For the purposes herein, 'coagulation' is defined as a process of desiccating tissue wherein the tissue cells are ruptured and dried
Implementation Method 5
both of which are affected by the thickness of the sealed vessel. More particularly, accurate application of pressure is important to oppose the walls of the vessel, to reduce the tissue impedance to a low enough value that allows enough electrosurgical energy through the tissue
Implementation Method 6
a cordless radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly generating an output radio-frequency signal at an output couple and a first selectively removable connector part electrically connected to the output couple for supplying the radio-frequency signal thereto
Data Source
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AI summary
The application relates to a radio-frequency assembly removably connectable to a control handle (4400) of a cordless cautery and cutting surgical device, the assembly comprising a radio-frequency signal generating assembly including radio-frequency-signal-generating circuitry, a voltage-control circuit and an external output, the radio-frequency-signal-generating circuitry having a circuitry output, the voltage-control circuit configured to control the circuitry output and an interchangeable circuit casing (4406) shaped to be removably connected to the control handle, the interchangeable circuit casing configured to house the radio-frequency signal generating assembly and including a securing connection adapted to couple the external output to leads of the control handle, the external output being operable to impart radio-frequency signals to the control handle when the securing connection connects the external output to the leads of the control handle. The application further relates to a cordless surgical device for cautery and cutting for use with the radio-frequency assembly.