Motor-Driven Surgical Cutter with Adaptive Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motor-driven endocutters lack user feedback regarding the deployment, force, and position of the cutting instrument, leading to a lack of acceptance among physicians due to the inability to experience proportionate force distribution and control during the cutting/stapling operation.
Innovation Solution
A motorized surgical cutting and fastening instrument with a power assist system providing feedback through a gear drive train, allowing operators to control the end effector with separate closure and firing triggers, and using sensors to detect the position and force applied, enabling adaptive control and tactile feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a motor-driven system is used to automate the cutting and stapling operation, then productivity and precision are improved, but the operator loses tactile feedback and control over the deployment force and position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback system where sensors detect the position and force applied during end effector deployment, and this information is provided back to the operator through a display interface. This allows the operator to monitor and control the motor-driven operation while maintaining awareness of deployment parameters, thus resolving the contradiction between automation and tactile feedback.
2Ease of operation
If traditional hand-powered devices are used, then operators experience proportionate force distribution and tactile feedback, but the cutting and stapling operation requires excessive manual force and is less precise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical hand-powered firing mechanism with a motor-driven system that can be controlled through a trigger. The motor provides the necessary force for cutting and stapling, eliminating the need for operators to apply excessive manual force, while sensors maintain tactile feedback to ensure proportionate force distribution.
3Device complexity
If motor-driven automation is implemented without feedback mechanisms, then device complexity is reduced, but surgeon acceptance decreases due to lack of control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors and a control system that provide real-time feedback to the operator about end effector position and deployment force. This feedback mechanism maintains surgeon control and acceptance of the motor-driven system without significantly increasing overall device complexity, as the feedback components are integrated into the existing motor-driven architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical cutting and fastening instrument is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the instrument includes an end effector, a main drive shaft assembly, and a handle. The end effector comprising a cutting instrument for cutting an object positioned therein. The handle comprises a motor for actuating the shaft via a gear drive train, a firing trigger, and a run motor sensor for sensing retracting of the firing trigger. When retraction of the firing trigger is sensed by the run motor sensor, the motor is signaled to forward rotate to cause cutting of the object positioned in the end effector by the cutting instrument. The instrument may also include a reverse motor sensor for sensing a condition indicative of an end of a cutting stroke by the cutting instrument and a stop motor sensor for sensing a condition indicative of retraction of the cutting instrument.