Trocar Pressure Sensor Redundancy for Laparoscopic Insufflation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for controlling pressurization in patient cavities during laparoscopic surgery using trocars can be inaccurate due to pressure sensors being damaged or affected by contamination and distance from the processor, leading to potential harm to patients.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a primary pressure sensor on the trocar to directly measure pressure in the patient cavity, with a backup pressure sensor either on the insufflator or trocar to switch control when primary sensor data appears faulty, ensuring continuous and accurate pressure monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a pressure sensor is placed in the trocar to directly measure pressure in the patient cavity, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to sensor damage or contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the pressure sensing function into two separate sensors: a primary pressure sensor positioned in the trocar for direct measurement, and a backup pressure sensor positioned in the insufflator as a redundant measurement point. This segmentation ensures that if one sensor fails or becomes contaminated, the other can take over, resolving the contradiction between direct measurement precision and sensor reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a backup pressure sensor that stands ready in advance to compensate if the primary sensor fails. This prior cushioning approach ensures continuous reliable pressure monitoring by having a pre-positioned backup measurement point that can activate when the primary sensor is damaged or contaminated, thus protecting against reliability failures while maintaining measurement capability.
2Reliability
If a backup pressure sensor is added to the system, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backup pressure sensor in the insufflator serves dual purposes: it acts as a backup measurement point when the primary sensor fails, and it also provides an alternative measurement location that is easier to protect from contamination. This multi-functionality approach justifies the added complexity by providing both redundancy and a protected measurement alternative.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a processor as an intermediary that automatically monitors both pressure sensors and determines which one to trust. This intermediary intelligence manages the complexity of having two sensors by automatically switching between them based on reliability criteria, thus reducing the operational burden despite the increased hardware complexity.
3Productivity
If pressure measurement is continuous through a trocar-based sensor, then productivity is improved by avoiding procedure interruption, but measurement precision deteriorates due to sensor contamination or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback monitoring of pressure measurements from both sensors, with the processor evaluating the reliability of each measurement in real-time. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain continuous productivity by automatically detecting and compensating for sensor contamination or damage, thus preserving measurement precision without interrupting the surgical procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between the primary and backup pressure sensors based on real-time reliability assessment. When the primary sensor becomes contaminated or damaged, the system dynamically transitions to using the backup sensor, ensuring continuous accurate measurement and maintaining surgical productivity without interruption.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
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AI summary
According to one embodiment, a system for supplying insufflation fluid includes a trocar (14) having a primary pressure sensor (22) in or on the trocar (14) which is positioned into a patient cavity (20). The system is configured for supplying an insufflation fluid to the patient cavity (20) and measuring a pressure in the patient cavity (20) by the primary pressure sensor (22). The system is further configured for controlling the supply of insufflation fluid by an insufflator (10) to the patient cavity (20) based at least on the measured pressure and determining by a processor associated with the insufflator (10) that the measured pressure may be inaccurate and in response, controlling, by the insufflator (10), the supply of insufflation fluid to the patient cavity (20) based at least on a pressure measured by a backup pressure sensor (26) rather than based on the measured pressure.