Surgical Stapler Suitability Checks Using Tissue and Device Parameters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical systems lack the ability to accurately determine whether a surgical instrument is suitable for a proposed function based on real-time tissue and device parameters, leading to potential inefficiencies and safety concerns during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system comprising a control circuit, sensors, and a user interface that analyze detected tissue parameters in conjunction with device parameters to determine the appropriateness of the surgical instrument for a specific function, using a system-defined constraint to provide real-time feedback to the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgical systems use basic device parameters without real-time tissue parameter analysis, then the system complexity is reduced, but the reliability and safety of surgical instrument selection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical system is segmented into distinct functional modules: sensor module for tissue parameter detection, control circuit for analyzing device and tissue parameters, and user interface for displaying suitability information. This modular segmentation enables reliable instrument selection while managing system complexity through organized functional decomposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously detecting tissue parameters (impedance, temperature, force) and device parameters, analyzing their compatibility against stored constraints, and providing real-time feedback through the user interface indicating whether the surgical instrument is suitable for the proposed function. This closed-loop feedback ensures reliable instrument suitability determination.
2Measurement precision
If surgical systems implement comprehensive sensor analysis of tissue parameters, then the measurement precision of instrument suitability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different sensors are deployed to detect specific local tissue properties: impedance sensors for electrical properties, temperature sensors for thermal state, and force sensors for mechanical characteristics. Each sensor provides specialized local measurement capability, achieving comprehensive tissue characterization while managing complexity through targeted sensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit is designed with universal functionality to analyze multiple types of device parameters (power, temperature, pressure) and tissue parameters (impedance, temperature, force) using a unified constraint-based framework. This multi-functional approach achieves comprehensive analysis precision while avoiding the complexity of separate dedicated analysis systems for each parameter type.
3Productivity
If surgical systems provide real-time analysis and feedback on instrument appropriateness, then the productivity and efficiency of surgical procedures is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis by evaluating device and tissue parameter compatibility before the surgical instrument is activated or deployed. The control circuit stores constraints and suitability criteria in advance, and the user interface provides pre-clearance or warnings before procedural actions, enabling efficient decision-making without delaying the surgical workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical system provides self-service by automatically monitoring its own operational parameters and tissue interaction conditions, analyzing compatibility without requiring external intervention, and autonomously providing feedback on instrument suitability. This self-monitoring capability improves procedural efficiency while the automated analysis manages the complexity burden.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical system includes a control circuit, a surgical instrument, and a user interface is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a plurality of components and a sensor. Each of the plurality of components of the surgical instrument includes a device parameter and is configured to transmit its respective device parameter to the control circuit. The sensor of the surgical instrument is configured to detect a tissue parameter associated with a proposed function of the surgical instrument, and transmit the detected tissue parameter to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to analyze the detected tissue parameter in cooperation with each respective device parameter based on a system-defined constraint. The user interface is configured to indicate whether the surgical instrument comprising the plurality of components is appropriate to perform the proposed function.