Staircase Optical Elements for Precision Vessel Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for surgical instruments that can seal and/or cut tissue while minimizing the heating of surrounding tissue, as traditional methods often leave foreign material inside the patient and can cause excessive heating of surrounding tissues.
Innovation Solution
The use of surgical instruments that employ optical energy to seal and/or cut tissue, featuring an end effector assembly with a jaw member containing a plurality of optical elements arranged in a staircase-like manner to direct a beam of light towards the tissue, minimizing heat transfer to surrounding tissues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrosurgical energy is used to seal tissue, then vessel sealing is achieved, but surrounding tissue is excessively heated
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element is divided into multiple reflective surfaces (first reflective surface, second reflective surface, third reflective surface) that segment the light beam path. Each surface directs light to specific areas, allowing precise control of energy distribution to seal the vessel while avoiding excessive heating of surrounding tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
Different reflective surfaces are positioned and oriented to provide localized energy delivery. The first reflective surface directs light to a first area, the second reflective surface to a second area, and the third reflective surface to a third area, ensuring that energy is concentrated where needed for sealing while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
2Reliability
If traditional staples, clips or sutures are used to close vessels, then vessel closure is achieved, but foreign body material is left inside the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical closure methods (staples, clips, sutures) with an optical energy-based sealing system. The optical element delivers light energy to thermally seal the vessel tissue, eliminating the need for foreign body materials while achieving reliable vessel closure through controlled heating and tissue welding.
3Manufacturing precision
If optical elements are arranged to direct light towards tissue, then sealing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple reflective surfaces are integrated into a single optical element structure. The first, second, and third reflective surfaces are combined within one component that is positioned within the end effector assembly, simplifying manufacturing and assembly while maintaining precise light direction control for accurate energy delivery.
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
These instruments effectively seal and/or cut tissue with minimal heating of surrounding tissue, reducing foreign material left in the patient and improving surgical precision.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of optical elements are arranged in a staircase-like manner that rises towards the tissue contacting surface as the plurality of optical elements extends distally within the cavity. The plurality of optical elements is configured to direct a beam of light exiting the fiber optic cable towards the tissue contacting surface.
Data Source
AI summary
An end effector assembly for an optical surgical instrument includes a jaw member and a plurality of optical elements positioned within a cavity of the jaw member. The jaw member has a tissue contacting surface. The jaw member has a proximal portion that is configured to secure a fiber optic cable thereto such that a distal end of the fiber optical cable extends into the cavity. The plurality of optical elements are arranged in a staircase-like manner that rises towards the tissue contacting surface as the plurality of optical elements extends distally within the cavity. The plurality of optical elements is configured to direct a beam of light exiting the fiber optic cable towards the tissue contacting surface.