Surgical Jaw Electrode Sensing for Tissue and Foreign Object Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments lack the ability to efficiently detect and characterize tissue and foreign objects within their jaws, which can lead to inefficiencies and safety risks during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
The integration of electrodes within the jaws of surgical instruments, coupled with a control circuit and memory, allows for impedance signal analysis to detect and determine the position of media, generating alerts for detected objects and tissue, enhancing precision and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electrodes and control circuits are integrated into surgical instruments to enable detection of tissue and foreign objects, then measurement precision and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates electrodes directly into the surgical instrument's end effector, combining the detection function with the existing mechanical structure. The control circuit is integrated into the instrument housing, merging signal processing capabilities with the mechanical components. This integration enables precise detection of tissue and foreign objects while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity by utilizing existing instrument architecture.
2Reliability
If real-time detection algorithms are implemented to identify tissue and foreign objects, then reliability and safety improve, but use of energy and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of tissue and foreign objects using impedance sensing before the surgical stapling operation commences. The control circuit analyzes impedance signals in advance to identify potential issues, allowing the surgeon to correct problems before they compromise patient safety. This preliminary action reduces the need for continuous high-energy processing during critical surgical moments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control circuit continuously monitors impedance signals from the electrodes and provides real-time information about tissue and foreign object presence. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of surgical parameters and alerting of the surgeon to potential hazards, improving operational reliability through continuous monitoring rather than requiring continuous high-energy computational processing.
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 solution enables precise detection and characterization of tissue and foreign objects, improving the efficiency and safety of surgical operations by providing real-time feedback.
Implementation Method 1
determine an impedance signal based on signals received from the plurality of electrodes, detect a media positioned between the jaws of the end effector based on the determined impedance signal
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument is disclosed herein. The surgical instrument can include an end effector that includes jaws configured to transition between an opened condition and a closed condition, a plurality of electrodes positioned within the jaws of the end effector, a control circuit, and a memory configured to store an algorithm configured to cause the control circuit to determine an impedance signal based on signals received from the plurality of electrodes, detect a media positioned between the jaws of the end effector based on the determined impedance signal, determine a position of the detected media based on the received signals, and generate an alert associated with the detected media and the determined position.