Surgical End Effector Electrode Configurations for Arcing Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instruments face challenges in effectively sealing and transecting tissue using electrical energy, particularly in maintaining a consistent gap for efficient energy transmission and preventing arcing between conductive and non-conductive components.
Innovation Solution
The surgical instrument features an end effector with a first and second jaw, where at least one jaw is movable, and includes electrically conductive and non-conductive layers with protrusions extending through openings to maintain a predetermined gap, allowing for the transmission of electrical energy through tissue while preventing arcing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrically conductive layers are placed close together to improve sealing effectiveness, then tissue sealing efficiency improves, but arcing between conductive components occurs
Solution Approach 1:
An electrically non-conductive layer is introduced as an intermediary between the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer. This non-conductive layer prevents direct electrical contact and arcing between the conductive layers while still allowing the electrical energy to be transmitted through the tissue sandwiched between the jaws, thus resolving the contradiction between improving sealing efficiency and preventing harmful arcing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a predetermined gap is maintained between conductive layers to prevent arcing, then arcing is minimized, but energy transmission efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The thickness and material properties of the electrically non-conductive layer are carefully controlled to optimize the gap distance. By adjusting this parameter, the design maintains sufficient separation to prevent arcing while minimizing the gap size to preserve energy transmission efficiency through the tissue. The non-conductive layer's electrical resistance and thickness are tuned to achieve the optimal balance between arcing prevention and energy delivery.
3Manufacturing precision
If electrically conductive layers are positioned precisely to ensure consistent energy delivery, then treatment uniformity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first electrically conductive layer, the electrically non-conductive layer, and the second electrically conductive layer are combined into a single integrated jaw structure. This merging of multiple functional layers into one unified component simplifies the overall device architecture, reduces the number of separate parts that need to be assembled and positioned, while still maintaining the precise spacing and functional separation needed for consistent energy delivery through the tissue.
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
This configuration enables efficient tissue sealing and transection by ensuring consistent energy delivery and minimizing arcing, thereby enhancing the precision and effectiveness of surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The second electrically conductive layer is configured to conduct electrical energy to the first electrically conductive layer through tissue disposed between the first jaw and the second jaw in the second configuration to treat the tissue
Implementation Method 2
the second jaw comprises a second electrically conductive layer defining at least one opening and an electrically non-conductive layer, wherein the first electrically conductive layer and the electrically non-conductive layer are configured to be on opposite sides of the second electrically conductive layer
Data Source
AI summary
An end effector includes a first electrically conductive layer and a second electrically conductive layer comprising an electrically conductive projection extending from the second electrically conductive layer, wherein at least one of the first electrically conductive layer and the electrically conductive projection is movable relative to the other one of the first electrically conductive layer and the electrically conductive projection to capture tissue therebetween.