Surgical Instrument with Segmented Electrodes for Simultaneous Tissue Cutting and Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments face challenges in achieving safe and rapid tissue separation and sealing due to complex relationships between spatial arrangements of electrodes and energy delivery methods, which affect current distribution and mechanical forces, leading to suboptimal cutting and coagulation results.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a surgical instrument with spatially separated cutting and coagulation electrodes, decoupled by current-limiting elements, and a transformer with independent voltage and current adjustments, ensuring optimal energy delivery for simultaneous cutting and coagulation, minimizing tissue shrinkage and ensuring reliable tissue hold during the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cutting and coagulation electrodes are spatially separated to enable simultaneous treatment, then treatment speed is improved, but current distribution control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument divides the electrode system into separate cutting and coagulation electrodes with independent current pathways. The cutting electrode is positioned to sever tissue while the coagulation electrode is positioned to seal, allowing simultaneous operation with controlled current distribution through separate electrical circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
A coupling capacitor is introduced as an intermediary element between the power source and the electrodes. This capacitor limits the current flow to appropriate levels for each electrode type, preventing excessive current from reaching the coagulation electrode while enabling sufficient current for cutting, thus mediating the current distribution challenge.
2Productivity
If high current is delivered to the cutting electrode for rapid cutting, then cutting speed is improved, but unwanted coagulation effects occur at the cutting electrode
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical circuit is segmented into separate current pathways: one for cutting and one for coagulation. The cutting electrode receives high current for rapid cutting, while the coagulation electrode receives controlled current for sealing, preventing cross-contamination of electrical effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling capacitor serves as a current-limiting intermediary that prevents excessive current from the cutting electrode from causing unwanted coagulation effects. It allows the cutting electrode to operate at high current for speed while protecting the coagulation process from interference.
3Manufacturing precision
If low current is delivered to the coagulation electrode for precise sealing, then coagulation quality is improved, but cutting is impaired due to current competition
Solution Approach 1:
Independent electrical circuits are provided for cutting and coagulation electrodes, eliminating current competition. The coagulation electrode receives controlled low current for quality sealing while the cutting electrode can simultaneously receive high current for efficient cutting without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling capacitor acts as a current-limiting element that prevents current from the cutting electrode from interfering with the coagulation process. This intermediary ensures that low current coagulation quality is maintained while allowing high current cutting efficiency to proceed simultaneously.
4Loss of time
If simultaneous cutting and coagulation is performed, then treatment time is reduced, but tissue shrinkage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument segments the treatment process into spatially separated cutting and coagulation zones. The cutting electrode severing tissue is positioned away from the coagulation electrode, allowing simultaneous operation while minimizing thermal and mechanical interference that would cause tissue shrinkage.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling capacitor limits current flow to prevent excessive thermal effects at the cutting electrode that would cause tissue shrinkage. This intermediary allows simultaneous treatment to reduce time while controlling thermal parameters to minimize tissue deformation.
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 system enables high-quality tissue separation and sealing with reduced overall duration, typically completing cutting in less than 0.5 seconds and sealing in less than three seconds, minimizing tissue shrinkage and preventing bleeding.
Implementation Method 1
The power supply arrangement contains a transformer having two outputs, one connected to the cutting electrode and one connected to the coagulation electrode
Implementation Method 2
The outputs are decoupled from one another via at least one current-limiting element in the form of a coupling capacitor
Implementation Method 3
a cutting electrode, a coagulation electrode or sealing electrode, and a counter electrode are provided
Implementation Method 4
a cutting electrode, a coagulation electrode or sealing electrode, and a counter electrode are provided
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An instrument (10) designed for the simultaneous coagulation and cutting of tissue has tissue receiving chambers between the cutting electrode and the sealing electrode for the formation of tissue ridges to secure the tissue in the tool during the sealing process. To enable the formation of voluminous tissue ridges and prevent their shrinkage, the cutting electrode is powered by an energy supply unit. The energy supply is designed so that the cutting of the tissue is completed before the tissue sealing process is finished. This ensures a high level of process reliability, particularly for tissues that are easy to cut but require a long sealing time.