Surgical Jaw Electrode Arrays for Tissue and Foreign Object Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments lack effective sensing and feedback features to accurately detect tissue location, characterize tissue characteristics, and identify foreign objects within their jaws, which can compromise surgical efficiency and safety.
Innovation Solution
The surgical instruments incorporate electrodes and a flexible circuit for multiplexed signal transmission, a control circuit, and a memory to determine impedance and generate alerts for detected media position, utilizing electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to scan and characterize tissue and foreign objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing surgical instruments are used without sensing features, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision of tissue location and foreign object detection is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing system is segmented into multiple independent electrodes arranged in arrays within the end effector jaws. Each electrode can independently measure impedance, allowing precise localization of tissue and foreign objects through comparative analysis of impedance values across different electrode positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrodes serve multiple functions: they detect tissue presence, characterize tissue properties, identify foreign objects, and determine their spatial positions. The same impedance measurement system provides both detection and localization capabilities, reducing the need for separate sensing systems.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to detect tissue and foreign objects, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple electrodes are merged into integrated arrays within the end effector structure. The electrodes are electrically connected through a flexible circuit, combining their signals for processed by a single control circuit. This integration reduces the complexity compared to having separate sensing systems while maintaining the ability to detect multiple objects.
3Measurement precision
If impedance spectroscopy is used to characterize tissue, then the measurement precision of tissue characteristics improves, but the use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The impedance spectroscopy uses periodic signal transmission at multiple frequencies through the electrode arrays. The control circuit sends electrical signals at different frequencies and measures the impedance response, which provides characteristic information about tissue properties. This periodic measurement approach allows comprehensive tissue characterization while managing energy consumption through frequency-multiplexed signals.
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
Enhances surgical precision and safety by accurately detecting and characterizing tissue and foreign objects, improving the efficiency of surgical operations.
Implementation Method 1
determine an impedance based on the signals received from the plurality of electrodes; detect a media positioned between the jaws of the end effector based on the impedance
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument is disclosed herein. The surgical instrument can include an end effector comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, a plurality of electrodes positioned within the jaws of the end effector, a flexible circuit comprising a conductive track configured for multiplexed transmission of a plurality of signals to and from the end effector, a control circuit communicably coupled to the plurality of electrodes via the flexible conductor, and a memory configured to store an algorithm configured to cause the control circuit to: receive signals from the plurality of electrodes; determine an impedance based on the signals received from the plurality of electrodes; detect a media positioned between the jaws of the end effector based on the impedance; determine a position of the detected media along the longitudinal axis based on the received signals; and generate an alert associated with the detected media and the determined position.