Motorized Surgical Device Cutting Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical devices face challenges in achieving optimal hemostasis during tissue cutting, as excessive pressure can lead to tissue trauma, necrosis, and prolonged healing, and existing technologies lack precise control over the cutting process to accommodate varying tissue types and conditions.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device equipped with sensors to measure tissue impedance and a motor controller that adjusts the cutting element's speed based on real-time impedance data, ensuring controlled translation and force application to prevent tissue trauma and enhance hemostasis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressure applied to tissue is increased to achieve hemostasis, then bleeding is limited and hemostasis time is decreased, but tissue trauma occurs resulting in vessel fracturing, necrosis, and prolonged healing
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting element velocity is dynamically adjusted during the cutting process based on real-time motor load monitoring. The controller sequentially increases velocity in increments when motor load is below threshold, and decreases velocity when load exceeds threshold, creating a dynamic adaptation to tissue conditions that optimizes both hemostasis and tissue preservation
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring motor current, voltage, and RPM to determine motor load during cutting. This feedback loop allows the controller to adjust cutting velocity in real-time based on actual tissue resistance and cutting conditions, preventing excessive force application while maintaining effective hemostasis
2Productivity
If cutting element velocity is increased to improve productivity, then cutting speed is improved, but control precision over force application is reduced leading to potential tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting element velocity transitions from static to dynamic control, with the controller adjusting velocity in sequential increments (e.g., 0.01 in/sec steps) based on real-time motor load conditions, allowing speed optimization without sacrificing force control precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the velocity parameter dynamically during operation based on motor load thresholds. The controller modifies velocity settings in real-time, increasing when load is acceptable and decreasing when load indicates potential tissue damage risk, thus maintaining precision across varying productivity levels
3Device complexity
If fixed cutting velocity is used to simplify control, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to varying tissue types and conditions is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting system performs self-adjustment by automatically monitoring its own motor load and independently modifying cutting velocity without external intervention. The controller uses embedded algorithms to interpret motor parameters and autonomously optimize cutting speed for different tissue types, maintaining simplicity while enhancing adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
Real-time feedback from motor current, voltage, and RPM sensors enables the control system to detect tissue variations and automatically adjust velocity settings, providing adaptability to different tissue types without requiring complex manual control or pre-programming for each tissue type
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
The device provides precise control over the cutting process, reducing tissue trauma and promoting faster healing by adjusting the cutting speed based on tissue impedance, thereby optimizing hemostasis and reducing recovery time.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor configured to sense an impedance of the tissue engaged between the facing engagement surfaces
Implementation Method 2
a motor configured to provide an output that causes the cutting element to translate through the end effector at a speed
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices for controlling motorized surgical devices are provided. In general, the methods and devices can allow a surgical device to grasp and cut tissue. In some embodiments, the device can include at least one sensor and a motor, and an output of the motor can be configured to be adjusted based at least in part on an output from the at least one sensor. The output of the motor can be configured to provide power for translation of a cutting element along an end effector of the device. Adjusting the motor's output can cause the cutting element to translate through the end effector at different speeds, thereby allowing the cutting element to cut through tissue being grasped by the end effector at different speeds.