Staple Cartridge Sensor Control Under Power and Bandwidth Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments face challenges in efficiently optimizing sensor data collection, transmission, and processing due to limitations in power management, data bandwidth, and signal interference, particularly in robotic surgical systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a control program or logic configuration that modulates sensor parameters such as sampling rate, power consumption, and data transmission rates based on real-time constraints of bandwidth, power discharge rate, and remaining capacity, while also prioritizing sensor data based on contextual information and surgical tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensor data collection and transmission are continuously optimized at high rates, then measurement precision and data accuracy are improved, but power consumption increases beyond available capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of sensor sampling rates based on real-time surgical conditions. The control program monitors surgical task phase, tissue interaction state, and power availability to continuously modulate sensor parameters. During critical surgical moments, sampling rates increase for higher precision; during stable phases, rates decrease to conserve power, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters of sensors including sampling rate, data transmission frequency, and processing intensity based on detected surgical context. By dynamically altering these parameters rather than maintaining fixed high-rate collection, the system achieves necessary measurement precision only when clinically required, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining data accuracy during critical operations.
2Measurement precision
If sensor sampling rate is increased to capture more surgical data, then measurement precision is improved, but data processing demands exceed bandwidth capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial data collection by selectively sampling sensor data at varying rates based on surgical phase and clinical relevance. Rather than continuously collecting maximum data, the control program applies partial action by reducing sampling during stable surgical phases and intensifying collection during critical events, thereby achieving necessary measurement precision without overwhelming data processing bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic adjustment of sensor sampling rates synchronized with surgical task phases. The control program detects periodic patterns in surgical workflow and organizes data collection accordingly, intensifying sampling during critical periodic events while reducing it during routine phases. This periodic action pattern maintains measurement precision during essential moments while preventing continuous high-rate data generation that would exceed processing capacity.
3Reliability
If multiple sensors are activated continuously for comprehensive monitoring, then reliability of surgical instrument is improved, but power consumption exceeds discharge rate capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensor array into multiple independent groups that can be selectively activated based on surgical context. Rather than continuously powering all sensors, the control program divides sensor functionality into segments and activates only those segments required for current surgical tasks. This segmentation approach maintains instrument reliability by ensuring necessary sensors remain active while reducing overall power consumption to within discharge rate capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements multi-functionality where sensor groups serve multiple surgical purposes. A single sensor segment may monitor both tissue force and position depending on surgical phase, reducing the need for continuously activating separate sensor arrays. This universal approach maintains comprehensive monitoring capability and instrument reliability while reducing total power consumption by having sensors perform multiple functions rather than requiring dedicated sensors for each parameter at all times.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a surgical end effector for use with a surgical instrument. The surgical end effector comprises a jaw, and a staple cartridge seatable in the jaw. The staple cartridge comprises a sensor array configured to take measurements corresponding to a parameter associated with a function of the surgical instrument, a processor, and a memory storing program instructions. The memory storing program instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform an initial calibration of the sensor array, determine an initial adjustment to the measurements based on the initial calibration, perform an in-use calibration of the sensor array, and modify the initial adjustment based on the in-use calibration.