Surgical Suturing Jaw Control With Needle Feedback Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instruments face challenges in efficiently and accurately suturing tissues due to limitations in needle tracking and control, leading to variable stitch quality and potential tissue damage from excessive force or speed.
Innovation Solution
The development of a surgical suturing instrument with an adaptive needle driving system and advanced sensing mechanisms, including resistive sensing circuits and needle sensing systems, which monitor the needle's position and speed to adjust the firing stroke and prevent over-stress, ensuring precise tissue engagement and optimal stitch quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the needle firing speed is increased to improve productivity, then the suturing efficiency is improved, but the tissue damage risk increases due to excessive force or speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system that includes resistive sensing circuits and needle sensing systems to monitor needle position and speed in real-time. The control system adjusts the firing stroke parameters based on feedback signals, dynamically optimizing the needle firing speed to maintain high productivity while preventing tissue damage through automated regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic adjustment of needle firing parameters through an adaptive control system. The firing speed and force are not fixed but are dynamically modified based on real-time tissue engagement conditions, allowing the system to optimize suturing efficiency while adapting to varying tissue properties and thickness to prevent damage.
2Device complexity
If the needle tracking control is simplified to reduce device complexity, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the stitch quality becomes variable due to inaccurate positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical tracking mechanisms with an electrical sensing and control system. Instead of using intricate mechanical guides and positioners, the system uses resistive sensing circuits and electronic control to achieve precise needle tracking, thereby maintaining high manufacturing precision while managing device complexity through electronic rather than mechanical means.
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 system ensures consistent and precise suturing by monitoring needle position and force, adjusting the firing speed and sequence to accommodate varying tissue thickness, thereby reducing the risk of tissue damage and improving stitch quality.
Implementation Method 1
resistive sensing circuits and needle sensing systems, which monitor the needle's position and speed
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument comprising a jaw assembly is disclosed. The surgical instrument further comprises a motor-driven drive system configured to open the jaw assembly. The surgical instrument also comprises a control system configured to control the drive system and, also, control a power supply system configured to supply electrical power to electrodes defined in the outer surface, or outer surfaces, of the jaw assembly. In use, the surgical instrument can be used to apply mechanical energy and electrical energy to the tissue of a patient at the same time, or at different times. In certain embodiments, the user controls when the mechanical and electrical energies are applied. In some embodiments, the control system controls when the mechanical and electrical energies are applied.