Surgical Instrument Tissue Compression Sensing and Adaptive Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instruments face challenges in efficiently stapling and cutting tissue due to limitations in tissue compression sensing and adaptive control systems, leading to inconsistent performance across different tissue types and conditions.
Innovation Solution
The development of a surgical instrument with an interchangeable shaft assembly and advanced control systems, including a closure drive system, firing drive system, and tissue compression sensors, which enable precise tissue compression and adaptive control based on real-time tissue feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If real-time tissue feedback sensing is implemented, then surgical precision and consistency across different tissue types is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument is divided into modular components including interchangeable shaft assemblies, each capable of independent tissue characterization and control. This segmentation allows complex sensing and control functions to be distributed across separate modules, making the overall system more manageable and adaptable to different tissue types without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument incorporates real-time tissue feedback sensing that continuously monitors tissue properties during surgical procedures. This feedback mechanism enables the control system to dynamically adjust stapling and cutting parameters based on actual tissue characteristics, significantly improving surgical precision and consistency across different tissue types while the modular architecture keeps complexity manageable.
2Reliability
If adaptive control systems are added to handle different tissue types, then performance consistency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed to be dynamic and adaptive, automatically adjusting operational parameters based on real-time tissue characterization. This dynamic control enables consistent performance across diverse tissue types by continuously optimizing stapling and cutting parameters, while the modular shaft assembly design allows these complex control functions to be implemented in interchangeable units rather than a monolithic complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument utilizes parameter changes in tissue mechanical properties during compression to characterize different tissue types. By monitoring how tissue parameters change under compression, the system can identify tissue characteristics and automatically adjust control parameters to maintain consistent performance across different tissue types, reducing the need for complex manual intervention.
3Measurement precision
If tissue compression sensing is enhanced for better characterization, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument performs preliminary tissue characterization through controlled compression sensing before executing stapling or cutting operations. This preliminary action allows the system to pre-identify tissue properties and select appropriate operational parameters, improving measurement precision without requiring complex real-time adjustments during the actual surgical procedure, thereby managing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A powered surgical cutting and stapling instrument is disclosed. The instrument includes at least one sensor to measure at least one parameter associated with the instrument, at least one processor, and a memory operatively associated with the processor. The memory includes machine executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to monitor the at least one sensor over a predetermined time period and determine a rate of change of the measured parameter.