Ultrasonic Cartilage Excision System with Rapid Thermal Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for excising cartilage often result in a rough surface and struggle to efficiently remove cartilage due to its collagen-based composition, which absorbs impulses poorly, and fail to precisely control temperature to minimize heat insult to surrounding tissues.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic surgical system that uses a probe to generate ultrasonic vibrations, converting driving power into heat to excise cartilage by friction, with a controller ensuring the cartilage is heated to 120° C or higher within 2.2 seconds, effectively ablating the tissue while minimizing heat transfer to adjacent bone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rotating distal end with excision grooves is used to excise cartilage, then cartilage excision is achieved, but the surface of the excised cartilage becomes rough
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotation-based excision system with an ultrasonic vibration-based system. The ultrasonic probe generates high-frequency vibrations that facilitate cartilage excision through cavitation and mechanical erosion effects, eliminating the need for rotating grooved surfaces and producing smoother excised surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic ultrasonic vibrations at high frequency to achieve cartilage excision. The oscillating motion of the ultrasonic probe creates repetitive stress and cavitation effects that efficiently remove cartilage while maintaining surface smoothness, contrasting with the continuous rotation of traditional devices.
2Productivity
If ultrasonic vibration is used to heat and excise cartilage, then excision efficiency is improved, but temperature control is critical to avoid damage to surrounding tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates temperature sensing and control mechanisms that provide feedback to the ultrasonic generation system. This allows real-time monitoring and adjustment of the ultrasonic power to maintain the cartilage temperature within the optimal excision range (120°C or higher within 2.2 seconds) while preventing excessive heat transfer to surrounding healthy tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
The ultrasonic energy is concentrated locally at the probe-cartilage interface, creating high temperature and cavitation effects only at the excision site. This localized energy delivery enables efficient cartilage removal while minimizing thermal impact on adjacent tissues through precise spatial control of the ultrasonic field.
3Productivity
If the cartilage is heated to 120°C or higher within 2.2 seconds, then excision efficiency is maximized, but the risk of thermal damage to surrounding bone increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs high-power ultrasonic pulses that rapidly heat the cartilage to the excision temperature threshold (120°C) within 2.2 seconds and then immediately terminate or reduce power. This pulsed approach rushes through the heating phase quickly, achieving efficient excision while minimizing the total thermal exposure time to surrounding bone structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The ultrasonic vibration mechanism creates mechanical erosion and cavitation effects that assist cartilage removal independently of thermal effects. This mechanical action component allows for faster excision speeds without proportionally increasing thermal damage risk, as part of the excision mechanism does not rely solely on prolonged heating.
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 system achieves efficient cartilage excision with a smoother surface compared to traditional methods, reduces heat insult to surrounding tissues, and allows for precise temperature control to optimize the balance between excision amount and thermal damage.
Implementation Method 1
a transducer connected to the output unit, and configured to convert the driving power into ultrasonic vibration
Implementation Method 2
heating the predetermined portion of the cartilage by ultrasonic vibration converted based on the driving power
Implementation Method 3
excising the cartilage by receiving pressure by an operator while being in contact with the cartilage
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic surgical includes an output unit, a transducer, a probe, an excision unit, and, a controller. The output unit generates a driving power. The transducer is connected to the output unit. The transducer converts the driving power into ultrasonic vibration. The probe transmits the ultrasonic vibration. The excision unit is provided in the probe. The excision unit is in contact with a predetermined portion of the cartilage. The excision unit heats the predetermined portion of the cartilage by ultrasonic vibration converted based on the driving power. The excision unit excises the cartilage by receiving pressure by an operator while being in contact with the cartilage. The controller controls the driving power output from the output unit so that the predetermined portion of the cartilage is heated to a temperature of 120° C. or higher within 2.2 seconds.