Segmented Smoke Evacuation Control for Safer Electrosurgery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical smoke evacuation systems fail to effectively manage smoke generated during electrosurgical procedures, leading to unhealthy conditions for healthcare workers and patients due to the presence of toxic chemicals and small particulate matter, which can cause respiratory issues and post-operative complications.

Innovation Solution

A surgical evacuation system that integrates a processor and sensor system to monitor airflow, particle composition, and chemical analysis, adjusting operational parameters of the smoke evacuation module and electrosurgical instruments to minimize smoke generation and improve filtration efficiency, while also employing a segmented control circuit for safety checks and error detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a segmented control circuit is implemented for safety checks and error detection, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety checks and error detectionVSAvoidcontrol circuit
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit is divided into multiple independent segments, each responsible for specific safety checks and error detection functions. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high reliability through comprehensive monitoring while managing complexity by organizing functions into modular, manageable units that can be independently tested and maintained

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If sensor systems are integrated to monitor airflow, particle composition, and chemical analysis, then harmful factors are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmoke and particulate matterVSAvoidsensor system
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple sensor types (airflow sensors, particle composition sensors, chemical analysis sensors) are integrated into a unified monitoring system that collectively detects and responds to harmful factors. This merging approach consolidates multiple detection functions into a coordinated system, reducing harmful factors through comprehensive monitoring while managing complexity through integrated control architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If operational parameters are dynamically adjusted to minimize smoke generation, then harmful factors are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmoke generationVSAvoidparameter control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors smoke generation levels and dynamically adjusts operational parameters based on real-time feedback from sensors. This closed-loop control enables the system to minimize harmful smoke generation by automatically modifying operating conditions in response to detected levels, while managing complexity through automated control algorithms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3505116B1Smoke evacuation system including a segmented control circuit for interactive surgical platform
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 ETHICON INC
  • EP3505116B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3505116B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3505116B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Surgical systems can include evacuation systems for evacuating smoke, fluid, and/or particulates from a surgical site. A surgical evacuation system can be intelligent and may include one or more sensors for detecting one or more properties of the surgical system, evacuation system, surgical procedure, surgical site, and/or patient tissue, for example. The surgical system may include a segmented control circuit, a method of operating a segmented control circuit in a surgical evacuation system may include activating a first segment that includes a main processor and a safety processor. The first segment is caused to perform a first function. A second segment is activated where the second segment includes a sensing circuit and a display circuit. A third segment is activated where the third segment includes a motor control circuit and a motor.