Tissue Clip with Electrodes and Power Source for Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy-based tissue sealing instruments face challenges such as prolonged sealing times, risk of thermal damage, and bulky designs due to the need for compressing and heating tissue, which can disrupt surgical workflows and result in poor quality seals.
Innovation Solution
A tissue clip with a movable arm and body, equipped with electrodes and a power source, that applies sealing pressure and energy to grasp and seal tissue efficiently, featuring a biasing member for pressure generation and a control unit for energy transfer, along with optional sensors and cutting mechanisms for precise sealing and cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If power is increased to reduce sealing time, then sealing speed is improved, but risk of thermal damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue sealing process is divided into multiple sequential energy delivery phases (coagulation phase, sealing phase, consolidation phase) rather than applying high power continuously. This segmentation allows controlled heating at different stages, reducing peak thermal exposure while maintaining effective sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
Energy is delivered in periodic pulses with specific duty cycles rather than continuous application. The system uses pulsed RF energy delivery with adjustable on/off timing to achieve thorough tissue sealing while allowing brief cooling intervals that prevent excessive thermal accumulation and damage.
2Loss of time
If power is increased to reduce sealing time, then sealing speed is improved, but instrument design becomes bulkier
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves variable power delivery through electronic parameter adjustment of existing components rather than using multiple physical power sources. By changing electrical parameters (frequency, amplitude, pulse width) of the RF generator, the system adapts power output to match different sealing requirements without increasing physical size.
3Reliability
If jaw members are used for compressing and heating tissue, then sealing function is achieved, but they become overheated requiring cooling periods
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue itself acts as an intermediary heat sink between the RF energy source and the jaw members. Energy is delivered through the jaw members into the tissue, and the tissue's thermal mass absorbs and distributes the heat, preventing direct heat accumulation in the jaw members that would require cooling periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic energy delivery with duty cycles that include brief intervals between energy pulses. This periodic action allows heat to dissipate from the jaw members into the tissue and surrounding environment during off-periods, preventing overheating while maintaining sealing effectiveness over multiple cycles.
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 tissue clip enables faster and more controlled tissue sealing with reduced thermal damage risk, allowing for compact instrument designs and integration of various sealing mechanisms like soldering and photochemical bonding, while minimizing the need for prolonged sealing times.
Implementation Method 1
a control unit configured to transfer energy from the power source to the first and/or second electrode to thereby seal the tissue
Implementation Method 2
a biasing member configured to generate a sealing pressure to tissue grasped between the arm and the body by biasing the arm relative to the body
Implementation Method 3
heating compressed tissue by RF current up to the temperature of denaturizing and mixing of collagen and elastin
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a tissue clip for use in electrosurgical procedures. The tissue clip includes an arm having a first electrode formed thereon. The tissue clip also includes a body pivotally coupled to the arm. The body includes a power source and a second electrode. The arm is moveable from a first position relative to the body for approximating tissue and a second position closer to the body for grasping tissue therebetween