Robotic Electrosurgical Energy Phasing to Prevent Sparking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Bipolar electrosurgical instruments experience sparking and tissue burning due to high voltage CUT waveforms, necessitating a mechanism to enhance cutting performance while preventing unwanted sparking.
Innovation Solution
A control method for electrosurgical generators that applies energy in multiple phases, adjusting voltage and current limits based on trigger conditions and predetermined time periods to manage energy delivery safely during tissue cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high voltage CUT waveform is applied to bipolar electrosurgical instrument, then cutting performance is improved, but sparking occurs causing tissue burning
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting cycle is segmented into multiple phases (e.g., first cut phase and second cut phase) with different voltage levels. The controller alternates between high voltage phases for effective cutting and low voltage phases to prevent sparking and tissue burning, thereby resolving the contradiction between cutting performance and harmful sparking effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrosurgical generator applies voltage periodically in alternating phases rather than continuously. High voltage is applied in the first cut phase for cutting performance, then reduced to low voltage in the second cut phase to eliminate sparking. This periodic modulation allows the system to achieve effective cutting while preventing tissue burning.
2Productivity
If high voltage is applied continuously, then cutting efficiency is improved, but tissue surrounding the instrument burns
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage level is dynamically adjusted during the cutting process rather than remaining static. The controller switches between high voltage (for cutting efficiency) and low voltage (to prevent tissue burning) based on the operational phase, making the voltage application adaptive and controllable to avoid harmful effects while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller preliminarily plans the voltage application in distinct phases before executing the cutting cycle. By pre-defining high voltage phases for cutting and low voltage phases for safety, the system proactively prevents tissue burning before it can occur, while still achieving efficient cutting during the high voltage phases.
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 method effectively reduces sparking and tissue damage by optimizing energy application, ensuring precise cutting and coagulation without causing unnecessary tissue burning.
Implementation Method 1
Electrosurgery is the passing of a high frequency, for example radio frequency, current through tissue to cause a desired effect. Examples of that desired effect are cutting the tissue and coagulating the tissue.
Implementation Method 2
The COAG waveform consists of bursts of radio frequency, which when used at a low power setting causes a desiccation effect, and when used at a high-power setting causes a fulguration effect.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for controlling the application of energy from an electrosurgical generator to a robotic electrosurgical instrument during a cut mode in which the electrosurgical instrument is used to cut tissue. The control system: controls the electrosurgical generator to apply energy to the electrosurgical instrument during a first cut phase; detects a trigger condition has been met during the first cut phase; upon detecting that the trigger condition has been met, starts a timer; and upon a predetermined time period elapsing after the timer has started, controls the electrosurgical generator to switch from the first cut phase to a second cut phase, the second cut phase differing from the first cut phase by one or more energy parameters.