Integrated Optical Sensing In Surgical Staplers For Anastomotic Viability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical procedures lack the ability to predict and prevent anastomotic failures in gastrointestinal surgery due to inadequate assessment of tissue perfusion and oxygenation, leading to high morbidity and mortality rates.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument equipped with sensing elements that measure tissue oxygenation and perfusion using phosphorescent or fluorescent probes, integrated with surgical tools like staplers, to assess tissue viability before, during, and after anastomosis, providing quantitative data for optimal anastomosis placement and reducing failure risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional surgical instruments are used without sensing capabilities, then the surgical procedure can be performed with simple instruments, but the ability to obtain information from biological tissues is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines surgical manipulation functionality with tissue oxygenation sensing capabilities into a single integrated instrument. The surgical instrument includes both mechanical components for tissue manipulation and sensing elements (phosphorescent or fluorescent probes with detectors) for obtaining tissue oxygenation information, eliminating the need for separate sensing devices and reducing information loss during surgery
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical instrument is designed to perform multiple functions: mechanical tissue manipulation (cutting, grasping, stapling) and optical sensing (detecting phosphorescent or fluorescent signals from tissue probes). This multi-functional design allows the same instrument to both treat and diagnose tissue conditions, providing comprehensive information without requiring additional specialized devices
2Reliability
If surgical procedures are performed without real-time tissue oxygenation assessment, then the surgical process is faster and simpler, but the ability to predict and prevent anastomotic failures is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing capabilities are integrated into the surgical instrument to perform tissue oxygenation assessment before, during, and after the anastomosis procedure. This preliminary and continuous monitoring allows surgeons to identify at-risk tissues in advance and adjust surgical planning accordingly, preventing anastomotic failures before they occur while maintaining surgical workflow efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument provides real-time feedback on tissue oxygenation levels during the surgical procedure through integrated detectors that continuously monitor phosphorescent or fluorescent signals. This immediate feedback loop allows surgeons to make intraoperative adjustments to improve tissue perfusion or change anastomosis placement, thereby increasing reliability without significantly extending surgical time
3Adaptability or versatility
If quantitative tissue oxygenation data is not collected during surgery, then the surgical workflow remains simple, but the ability to adapt to patient-specific characteristics is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing system provides localized tissue oxygenation measurements at specific sites where the surgical instrument contacts the tissue. This local assessment capability allows surgeons to evaluate oxygenation characteristics of specific tissue regions and adapt surgical techniques to patient-specific anatomical and physiological variations, improving adaptability without requiring complex system-wide monitoring
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
Enables real-time, quantitative assessment of tissue oxygenation and perfusion, reducing anastomotic failures by allowing surgeons to take corrective actions, thereby improving surgical outcomes and minimizing complications.
Implementation Method 1
at least one sensor of the device detects the optical response of an oxygen sensing probe in the tissue, wherein the probe has a phosphorescent optical response, wherein the lifetime of the phosphorescent optical response is indicative of an oxygen concentration in the tissue
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2
AI summary
A surgical instrument may be configured to sense a light re-emitting probe to resolve tissue oxygenation, the surgical instrument including: an optical emitter configured to excite the light-remitting probe within an absorption band of the light re-emitting probe; an optical detector configured to receive the re-emitted light from the probe; and a signal processor configured to resolve the tissue oxygenation based on the received light. The surgical instrument can be a surgical stapler anvil or a flexible substrate having a tissue interfacing surface. Further, a monitoring device may be configured to map oxygenation of a tissue containing a light reemitting probe, the monitoring device including: an optical emitter configured to excite the light re-emitting probe; at least one optical detector configured to receive the re-emitted light from the probe; and a signal processor that is configured to resolve the tissue oxygenation at multiple points to generate an oxygen map.