Surgical Jaw Marking for Blade Visibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
During surgical procedures, surgeons face challenges in visualizing the blade of ultrasonic surgical instruments when it is obstructed by the jaw member or tissue, making it difficult to determine the amount of tissue being grasped.
Innovation Solution
A marking with a width equal to the blade is applied to the side of the jaw member facing away from the blade, allowing the surgeon to visualize the blade's width and the amount of tissue in contact with it, even when the blade is not directly visible. This marking can be etched or engraved and follows the curved profile of the blade.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the jaw member is made wider to provide structural support, then the structural stability is improved, but the blade becomes less visible when obstructed by the jaw member
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the copying principle by creating a visual mark on the jaw member that replicates the blade's width and curved profile. This mark serves as a two-dimensional representation that allows surgeons to infer the blade's position and dimensions without directly viewing the blade itself, thereby resolving the visibility issue while maintaining the wider jaw structure for stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual mark acts as an intermediary element between the blade and the surgeon's observation. Instead of requiring direct line-of-sight to the blade, the mark provides indirect information about the blade's position and width, enabling the surgeon to assess tissue contact without the blade being visible.
2Measurement precision
If the blade width is reduced to improve precision, then the measurement precision is improved, but the visual indication of tissue contact becomes less apparent
Solution Approach 1:
The mark copies the precise width of the blade, allowing the surgeon to accurately assess tissue contact despite the blade's reduced width. The mark amplifies the visual information provided by the narrow blade, making the tissue contact indication equally apparent regardless of the blade's actual width.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the jaw member width varies to accommodate different tissue sizes, then the adaptability is improved, but the blade width visualization becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing the width-indicating mark specifically at the portion of the jaw member that corresponds to the blade's location, rather than marking the entire jaw. This allows the jaw to vary in overall width for different tissue sizes while maintaining consistent blade width visualization at the critical local area where tissue contact occurs.
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 marking provides a clear visual cue for the surgeon to assess the tissue contact, enhancing procedural accuracy and safety by ensuring the correct amount of tissue is grasped during ultrasonic treatments.
Implementation Method 1
A marking is formed on the second side of the jaw member facing away from the blade. The marking defines a third width substantially equal to the first width of the blade to allow a surgeon to visualize a width of the blade when the blade is not visible.
Data Source
AI summary
An end effector assembly of a surgical system includes a blade and a jaw member movable relative to the blade between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for clamping tissue. The blade defines a first width and the jaw member defines a second width wider than the first width. The jaw member defines a first side facing the blade and a second side facing away from the blade. A marking is formed on the second side of the jaw member facing away from the blade. The marking defines a third width substantially equal to the first width of the blade to allow a surgeon to visualize a width of the blade when the blade is not visible.