Surgical Instrument Feedback and Data Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopic surgical instruments lack user feedback for the cutting/stapling operation, leading to a general lack of acceptance among physicians for motor-driven endocutters where the cutting/stapling operation is actuated by merely pressing a button, and there is a challenge in analyzing instrument failures due to the difficulty in reconstructing the conditions under which they failed.
Innovation Solution
A motor-driven endocutter with user-feedback mechanisms for the deployment, force, and position of the cutting instrument, and a recording system that captures various conditions of the instrument, including sensor data, to facilitate analysis and improve user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If motor-driven endocutters are actuated by merely pressing a button, then the operation is simplified and speed is improved, but the physician lacks user feedback leading to reduced acceptance and control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms including force sensors that detect tissue engagement forces, position sensors that monitor end effector location, and haptic feedback systems that provide tactile resistance to the operator. This allows the motor-driven system to maintain simplicity while providing the physician with sensory information about the cutting/stapling operation, thereby resolving the contradiction between automated speed and operational control
2Ease of operation
If traditional open surgical devices are used, then the physician has direct visual and tactile control, but the incision size is larger leading to longer recovery time and more complications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical open surgical devices with motor-driven endoscopic instruments that can be actuated remotely through small incisions. The system substitutes direct mechanical manipulation with motorized actuation while incorporating sensors and feedback mechanisms to maintain physician control, thereby enabling minimally invasive surgery with reduced recovery time while preserving operational precision
3Device complexity
If instrument failures are analyzed by reconstructing conditions based on damage, then no additional sensors are needed, but the analysis requires hundreds of man-hours and is very challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors that continuously monitor and record operating conditions such as force, position, temperature, and operational parameters during instrument use. This preliminary data collection captures the actual conditions under which the instrument was used, eliminating the need for time-consuming reconstruction of failure conditions and enabling rapid analysis of instrument failures
Data Source
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AI summary
A process and system are disclosed for downloading sensor data, stored in a memory device of a surgical cutting and fastening instrument, to an external or remote computer device. The process may involve storing data from one or more sensors of a surgical cutting and fastening instrument in a memory device of a control unit of the surgical cutting and fastening instrument during a surgical procedure involving the surgical cutting and fastening instrument. During the surgical procedure, the data may be transmitted to a local wireless communication device that is then transmitted to a central database for data analysis. Feedback is then communicated from the central database to a user of the surgical device via the local wireless communication device.