Ultrasonic Blade-Clamp Alignment in Articulating Surgical Shafts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic surgical instruments face challenges in precision control and articulation during robotically assisted surgeries, particularly in aligning the blade and clamp arm for effective tissue cutting and sealing, especially when operated remotely.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a shaft assembly with an articulation section and a clamp arm that can pivot and rotate independently, coupled with a flexible acoustic waveguide to maintain ultrasonic vibration transmission, allowing for precise tissue cutting and sealing, even in articulated configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the surgical instrument incorporates an articulation section with independent pivot and rotation capabilities, then the adaptability for robotically assisted surgeries is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft assembly is divided into multiple functional sections including a proximal shaft portion, a distal shaft portion, and an articulation section with independent pivot and rotation capabilities. This segmentation allows each section to perform specific functions (cutting, articulation, rotation) independently, enhancing adaptability for complex surgical procedures while managing overall system complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical instrument incorporates dynamic capabilities through the articulation section that can pivot and rotate independently, allowing the instrument to adapt its configuration during robotically assisted surgeries. This dynamic adaptability enables the instrument to reach different anatomical positions and angles without requiring multiple separate instruments
2Manufacturing precision
If a flexible acoustic waveguide is used to maintain ultrasonic vibration transmission during articulation, then the manufacturing precision of the blade-clamp arm alignment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic waveguide is constructed as a flexible structure that can transmit ultrasonic vibrations while accommodating the articulation and rotation of the shaft assembly. This flexibility allows the waveguide to maintain proper alignment between the blade and clamp arm during articulated configurations without requiring complex rigid alignment mechanisms, thus improving manufacturing precision while managing device complexity through material flexibility
3Manufacturing precision
If the clamp arm and blade are designed to remain aligned during articulation, then the cutting and sealing precision is improved, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp arm and blade are dynamically coupled through the flexible acoustic waveguide and articulation section, allowing them to maintain alignment during articulation movements. The system automatically preserves the precise relationship between cutting elements while the operator controls the articulation through the robotic system, balancing precision with operational ease through automated alignment maintenance
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 precise and efficient cutting and sealing of tissue with minimal thermal spread, enhancing the surgical instrument's performance in robotically assisted surgeries by maintaining vibration integrity during articulation.
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
A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a shaft assembly, and an axial location feature. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm that can move between an open and closed position. The shaft assembly includes a proximal shaft portion, an acoustic waveguide extending proximally from the ultrasonic blade, a distal shaft portion extending along a distal axis, and an articulation section interposed between the proximal shaft portion and the distal shaft portion. The articulation section can deflect the distal shaft portion and the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis between a non-deflected position and a deflected position. The axial location feature can inhibit the ultrasonic blade from shifting relative to the clamp arm along the distal axis as the end effector is driven between the non-deflected position and the deflected position.