Rotating Light-Energy Sphere for Tissue Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy-based surgical instruments, such as pencils and forceps, lack efficient mechanisms for delivering and focusing light energy to treat tissues effectively, particularly in multi-function surgical contexts where precise tissue treatment and detection are required.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument design featuring a light-energy transmissible sphere capable of unlimited rotation within a cavity, with a light-energy transmission cable to focus light energy on tissues and optionally detect tissue properties through reflected light, combined with fluid delivery and suction systems for maintaining contact and cleanliness, and pressure sensors for monitoring tissue interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a light-energy transmissible sphere is used to deliver light energy to tissue, then light energy delivery precision is improved, but the mechanism for maintaining stable contact on irregular tissue surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sphere is made rotatable within the cavity rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adapt its orientation to maintain contact with irregular tissue surfaces. The rotation mechanism enables the sphere to self-adjust during movement, preserving both contact stability and light energy delivery precision on non-planar surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
A fluid delivery system acts as an intermediary between the sphere and tissue surface. The fluid creates a stable interface that facilitates consistent light energy transfer while accommodating surface irregularities, allowing the sphere to maintain effective contact without direct mechanical pressure variations.
2Reliability
If mechanical clamping action is used to treat target tissue, then hemostasis effectiveness is improved, but tissue damage and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical clamping mechanisms with a simpler sphere-based system that uses light energy for tissue treatment. The sphere can deliver coagulation and cutting functions through light energy alone, eliminating the need for sophisticated mechanical clamping structures while maintaining hemostasis effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The sphere is designed as a multi-functional element that can perform dissection, coagulation, and cutting functions through light energy delivery, replacing multiple specialized mechanical instruments. This universal approach reduces overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive tissue treatment capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple energy-based instruments are used in conjunction, then tissue treatment versatility is improved, but device complexity and procedural time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple energy-based treatment functions (dissection, coagulation, cutting) into a single integrated sphere system. By combining these functions in one device, the patent reduces the need for multiple separate instruments and their associated complex interconnections, while maintaining comprehensive tissue treatment versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The sphere serves as a universal treatment element capable of performing multiple tissue treatment functions through light energy delivery. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for instrument switching and reduces procedural complexity while maintaining versatility across different tissue treatment requirements.
4Use of energy by moving object
If light energy is focused through a transmission cable to the sphere, then light energy transmission efficiency is improved, but alignment precision and system complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity acts as an intermediary space that accommodates the transmission cable and sphere interface. This cavity design provides alignment tolerance and simplifies the precision requirements by creating a forgiving interface zone where exact alignment is less critical, while still maintaining efficient light energy transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable sphere within the cavity provides dynamic alignment capability. As the sphere rotates, it can self-align with the transmission cable, reducing the need for precise static alignment during manufacturing and assembly while maintaining efficient light energy transmission throughout operation.
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 precise and versatile light energy delivery for tissue treatment, maintaining contact across irregular surfaces, detecting tissue properties, and ensuring effective cleaning, while avoiding the limitations of mechanical clamping and electrical paths.
Implementation Method 1
The light-energy transmission cable is configured to transmit light energy to the light-energy transmissible sphere. The light-energy transmissible sphere, in turn, is configured to focus the light energy towards tissue to treat tissue.
Implementation Method 2
The light-energy transmissible sphere is configured to focus the light energy towards tissue to treat tissue.
Implementation Method 3
one or more second light-energy transmission cables are configured to pass light through the light-energy transmissible sphere for reflection from tissue to enable the detection of at least one property of tissue
Data Source
AI summary
A tissue-treating portion of a surgical instrument includes a body defining a cavity and a light-energy transmissible sphere captured within the cavity such that a portion of the light-energy transmissible sphere protrudes from the body. The light-energy transmissible sphere is capable of unlimited rotation in all directions relative to the body. The light-energy transmission cable extends through the body to a position spaced-apart from the light-energy transmissible sphere. The light-energy transmission cable is configured to transmit light energy to the light-energy transmissible sphere. The light-energy transmissible sphere, in turn, is configured focus the light energy towards tissue to treat tissue.