Ultrasonic Blade Alignment Compensation During Clamp Arm Articulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical instruments with ultrasonic blades experience misalignment and changes in tissue clamp pressure during articulation, complicating surgical procedures, especially in robotically assisted surgeries.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a compensator mechanism, such as a passively shiftable transducer assembly, to maintain alignment between the ultrasonic blade and clamp arm by adjusting the position of the acoustic drivetrain components relative to the articulation section, ensuring consistent tissue clamp pressure and alignment during articulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the articulation section bends during articulation, then the end effector can access surgical sites better, but the blade element and clamp arm become misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic alignment mechanism where the blade element is configured to move relative to the acoustic waveguide in response to articulation section bending. This dynamic adjustment maintains alignment between the blade element and clamp arm despite changes in articulation configuration, resolving the contradiction between articulation capability and alignment precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the articulation section bends during articulation, then the end effector can access surgical sites better, but the tissue clamp pressure changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic compensation mechanism where the blade element's relative movement is coordinated with clamp arm positioning to maintain consistent tissue clamp pressure during articulation. The system dynamically adjusts the blade-clamp relationship to preserve optimal tissue compression forces despite articulation-induced geometric changes.
3Manufacturing precision
If a compensator mechanism is added to maintain alignment, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the alignment compensation function directly into the existing articulation mechanism by configuring the blade element to move relative to the acoustic waveguide through the articulation section's bending. This merging of alignment compensation with the articulation mechanism itself achieves precise blade alignment without adding separate complex compensator systems.
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
Maintains precise alignment and consistent tissue clamp pressure during articulation, enhancing surgical precision and reducing operational complexity in robotically assisted surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
These instruments include one or more piezoelectric elements that convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations, which are communicated along an acoustic waveguide to the blade element.
Implementation Method 2
an end effector having a blade element that vibrates at ultrasonic frequencies to cut and/or seal tissue (e.g., by denaturing proteins in tissue cells)
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an end effector with an ultrasonic blade, a shaft assembly, and a body assembly. The shaft assembly has an articulation section, an acoustic waveguide with a flexible waveguide portion, an articulation band configured to drive articulation of the articulation section between a straight configuration and an articulated configuration, and a pin distal to the articulation section and configured to constrain a distal waveguide portion to the end effector. The body assembly has a housing, a transducer assembly, and a compensator operatively connected to the articulation band and the acoustic waveguide. The compensator is configured to longitudinally urge the acoustic waveguide to thereby pivot the ultrasonic blade about the pin for alignment relative to another portion of the end effector.