Surgical Instrument Position Control for Tissue Treatment Precision

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Solution Overview

Problem

Powered surgical systems lack precise control over motorized instruments during procedures, leading to inefficiencies in tissue treatment and aspiration processes, particularly in maintaining fluid communication and managing acceleration and deceleration phases.

Innovation Solution

A surgical system with a processor that uses position control methodology to automatically control the movement of surgical instruments, ensuring precise acceleration and deceleration, and fluid communication management through a device with a first and second member arrangement, allowing for hold periods and optimized oscillation profiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional motorized instruments are used without position control methodology, then the device complexity is reduced, but the precision and control over tissue treatment and aspiration processes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision control over tissue treatmentVSAvoidcomplexity of control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The processor continuously monitors the position of the second member and adjusts motor commands in real-time based on the difference between actual and target positions. This closed-loop feedback control enables precise positioning and velocity control, resolving the contradiction by achieving high precision through intelligent control rather than mechanical complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical precision mechanisms with electronic position control methodology. The processor uses software algorithms to control motor acceleration, deceleration, and positioning, substituting mechanical complexity with computational control to achieve precise tissue treatment and aspiration management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If traditional velocity control is used for motorized instruments, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity and efficiency of tissue treatment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of tissue treatmentVSAvoidcomplexity of control system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts motor velocity and acceleration profiles based on real-time position feedback and treatment requirements. The processor modifies control parameters on-the-fly to optimize treatment efficiency, enabling adaptive velocity control that responds to changing surgical conditions rather than maintaining fixed velocity patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes control parameters from simple velocity commands to comprehensive position-profile-based control including acceleration, deceleration, and hold periods. This parameter transformation enables optimized treatment cycles with precise control over instrument motion phases, improving productivity through intelligent parameter management rather than mechanical optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If traditional control methods are used without position control methodology, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the reliability of fluid communication management deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of fluid communicationVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The processor automatically manages fluid communication timing by autonomously controlling instrument acceleration, deceleration, and positioning based on pre-programmed position profiles. The system self-regulates aspiration and irrigation phases without requiring manual coordination, improving reliability through automated control while maintaining ease of operation through footswitch or hand control activation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-programmes position profiles that define optimal acceleration, deceleration, and hold periods for reliable fluid communication. By preparing control sequences in advance and executing them automatically, the system ensures consistent aspiration and irrigation timing without requiring real-time manual adjustment, combining reliability with operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2142113B1Powered surgical system
Publication Date: 2023.01.11 SMITH & NEPHEW INC
  • EP2142113B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2142113B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2142113B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~2D

AI summary

A system for treating tissue includes a device (300) including a first member (310) and a second member (315) arranged to move relative to the first member to treat tissue. The system also includes a processor (124) configured to automatically control movement of the second member relative to the first member using position control methodology. A method of treating tissue includes providing a device having a first member and a second member arranged to move relative to the first member, moving the second member relative to the first member, and automatically controlling the movement of the second member using position control methodology.