Transparent Jaw Tissue Sealer with Optical Vessel Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy-based tissue-sealing devices do not provide sufficient information about the location of vessels within tissue, and their jaw members often obscure the surgeon's view, making it difficult to accurately position the instrument during surgical procedures, especially in limited field-of-view laparoscopic operations.
Innovation Solution
An energy-based tissue-sealing instrument with transparent or semi-transparent jaw members and an integrated optical system that illuminates tissue with specific wavelengths of light, allowing for the formation and analysis of light distributions to recognize tissue parameters, including vessel location and type, and optionally using luminescent markers to enhance contrast.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional opaque jaw members are used in tissue-sealing instruments, then the structural integrity and functionality of the instrument is maintained, but the surgeon's view of the tissue is blocked or obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw members are made transparent or semi-transparent, fundamentally changing their optical properties from opaque to transparent. This allows light to pass through the jaw members and the grasped tissue, enabling the surgeon to visualize the tissue and vessels during the sealing procedure while maintaining the structural integrity and functionality of the jaw members
2Loss of information
If existing tissue-sealing instruments are used without optical components, then the device simplicity is maintained, but sufficient information about vessel location and tissue parameters is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue-sealing instrument is designed to perform multiple functions: it can grasp and seal tissue while simultaneously serving as an optical device for visualizing tissue parameters and vessel locations. The integration of light sources, optical components, and transparent jaw members allows a single instrument to provide both mechanical sealing functionality and optical visualization, eliminating the need for separate visualization devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the tissue-sealing mechanism with an optical system into a single integrated instrument. The light sources, optical components (lenses, mirrors, prisms), and sealing mechanism are merged into one device, allowing the surgeon to perform sealing operations while simultaneously visualizing tissue parameters through the same instrument
3Ease of operation
If laparoscopic operations are performed with limited field of view, then the minimally invasive benefit is maintained, but the surgeon's ability to position the instrument accurately is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system utilizes wavelength-selective visualization to enhance contrast between different tissue structures. By selecting specific light wavelengths that are differentially absorbed or scattered by vessels versus surrounding tissue, the system improves vessel visibility and contrast within the limited laparoscopic field of view, enabling more accurate instrument positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes optical parameters (wavelength selection, intensity modulation) to optimize tissue visualization under laparoscopic conditions. By adjusting these parameters, the system enhances the visibility of vessels and tissue structures within the constrained field of view, improving the surgeon's ability to position the instrument accurately during minimally invasive procedures
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 surgeons to accurately view and recognize tissue parameters, including vessel positions, while manipulating tissue, thereby improving the quality of tissue seals and reducing the risk of complications by providing clear, unobstructed visualization during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor and microprocessor configured to form a spatial distribution of the light transmitted, scattered, or reflected by the tissue into an image of the tissue
Implementation Method 2
an optical sensor and microprocessor configured to form a spatial distribution of the light transmitted, scattered, or reflected by the tissue into an image of the tissue
Implementation Method 3
an optical sensor and microprocessor configured to form a spatial distribution of the light transmitted, scattered, or reflected by the tissue into an image of the tissue
Implementation Method 4
The first wavelength is selected so that the difference between absorption or scattering of the light of the first wavelength by the vessel and absorption or scattering of the light of the first wavelength by tissue surrounding the vessel is sufficient to recognize the vessel
Implementation Method 5
The method may further include introducing a marker into fluid flowing in the vessel. The marker may be a luminescent marker. The method also include analyzing luminescent light emitted from the marker
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus for optically recognizing tissue parameters during an energy- based tissue-sealing procedure involve grasping tissue with a tissue-sealing instrument, illuminating the grasped tissue or tissue adjacent to the grasped tissue with light, analyzing the light that is transmitted, scattered, or reflected by the tissue, and recognizing the tissue based on the result of analyzing the light. The wavelength of the light may be selected so that a vessel is sufficiently recognizable in tissue containing the vessel A marker may also be introduced into fluid flowing in the vessel to increase the contrast between the vessel and tissue containing the vessel. Analyzing the light includes analyzing the spatial and spectral distribution of light. Analyzing the light may also include forming the light into an image of the illuminated tissue. The image of the illuminated tissue may be projected onto the eyes of a surgeon or sensed by a matrix of light detectors disposed on a jaw member of the tissue- sealing instrument and transmitted to a display.