Surgical Instrument with Directional Force Sensor for Dynamic Energy Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic surgical instruments lack effective feedback mechanisms to dynamically adjust energy settings based on the direction and magnitude of force applied during procedures, potentially leading to suboptimal tissue interaction and increased recovery times.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating directional force sensors and piezoelectric elements into the surgical instruments to detect the force applied and adjust the energy settings of the ultrasonic transducer in real-time, ensuring optimal tissue interaction and minimizing tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If fixed energy settings are used in endoscopic surgical instruments, then device simplicity is maintained, but tissue interaction optimization is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic energy settings that automatically adjust ultrasonic power delivery based on real-time force sensor feedback. The system transitions from static fixed settings to dynamic adaptive settings, allowing the energy delivery to change in response to varying tissue conditions and surgical operations, thereby optimizing tissue interaction without requiring complex manual adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates force sensors that continuously monitor the force applied to tissue and feed this information back to the control system. This feedback loop enables automatic adjustment of energy settings based on actual tissue interaction conditions, improving cutting and coagulation efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple device architecture through intelligent control algorithms
2Productivity
If higher energy settings are used to improve cutting efficiency, then productivity increases, but tissue trauma increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts energy delivery based on real-time force feedback, allowing high power settings to be used only when appropriate for the current surgical operation and tissue condition. This prevents excessive energy delivery that would cause unnecessary tissue trauma while maintaining high cutting efficiency when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the energy delivery parameters (power level, pulse duration) based on force sensor readings and detected surgical operations. By dynamically modifying these parameters, the system optimizes the balance between cutting efficiency and tissue trauma minimization for each specific surgical context
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 solution enables precise control of energy delivery, improving tissue cutting and coagulation efficiency while reducing tissue trauma and recovery time by dynamically adjusting energy settings based on the force applied during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor may comprise a piezoelectric element
Implementation Method 2
adjust the energy settings of the ultrasonic transducer
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus includes an end effector, an energy component, a control module, and a directional force sensor assembly associated with the energy component and control module. The directional force assembly can include a piezoelectric disc, a piezoresistive element, an accelerometer, and/or a Hall Effect sensor. The end effector of the apparatus can include ultrasonic blade, an RF electrode. or a staple driving assembly. In some versions, the energy component includes an ultrasonic transducer. The control module may be configured to operate the energy component at a first energy setting in response to a first detected force and at a second energy setting in response to a second detected force. The apparatus may also include an activation feature to be operated by a user. In some versions the piezoelectric disc may include a plurality of segments and may be configured to induce movement in at least part of the energy component.