Powered Surgical Instruments for Tissue-Adaptive Stapling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical staplers lack the ability to adapt their operational parameters based on the biomechanical properties of different tissues, leading to inconsistent stapling outcomes such as staple line pressure, tissue damage, and hemostasis.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument equipped with a controller that determines tissue type by measuring stress and strain during clamping, using a classification algorithm to set optimal operational parameters like staple size, firing speed, and clamp relaxation time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional surgical staplers use fixed operational parameters, then the device structure remains simple, but stapling outcomes become inconsistent across different tissue types
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument dynamically adjusts operational parameters (staple firing force, clamping force, staple formation pressure) based on real-time tissue identification. The controller modifies these parameters according to the identified tissue type, transforming the device from a static to a dynamic system that adapts to different tissue mechanical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters based on tissue type identification. Different tissue types (muscle, nerve, vessel, organ) trigger different parameter sets including staple firing force, clamping force, and staple formation pressure, ensuring optimal stapling outcomes for each tissue category.
2Measurement precision
If the surgical instrument measures multiple biomechanical parameters, then tissue type identification accuracy improves, but the measurement system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement process is segmented into distinct phases: initial clamping phase for stress measurement, intermediate phase for strain measurement, and relaxation phase for stress relaxation measurement. Each phase captures specific biomechanical properties that contribute to tissue type identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary measurements of tissue stress, strain, and stress relaxation characteristics before executing the actual stapling operation. These preliminary biomechanical assessments provide the data needed to identify tissue type and select appropriate operational parameters.
3Measurement precision
If the jaw members remain clamped for longer duration, then stress relaxation measurement accuracy improves, but surgical procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping process includes periodic measurement intervals where the jaw members maintain clamped position for predetermined time periods to capture stress relaxation characteristics. This periodic measurement approach balances measurement accuracy with procedural efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument includes an end effector configured to clamp tissue, a motor configured to actuate the end effector, and a controller in communication with the motor and configured to determine a stress and strain of the tissue, identify a tissue type of the tissue based on the determined stress and strain of the tissue, and set an operational parameter of the surgical instrument based on the identified tissue type of the tissue.