Ultrasonic Generator Pulse Control for Vessel Sealing Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasonic surgical instruments face challenges in effectively sealing blood vessels and providing visual feedback to surgeons during tissue cutting, leading to potential damage from excessive heat generation.
Innovation Solution
The development of a surgical system that includes a generator capable of providing continuous or pulsed drive signals to an ultrasonic surgical instrument, along with a tissue impedance module to monitor tissue impedance and provide feedback, allowing for precise cutting and coagulation without relying solely on clamp force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous drive signal is provided to ultrasonic surgical instrument, then cutting and coagulation function is maintained, but heat generation increases causing potential damage to tissue and instrument
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by providing ultrasonic drive signals in pulsed intervals rather than continuous operation. The control circuit is configured to provide a continuous drive signal based on the switch being in the first switch state, and a pulsed drive signal based on the switch being in the second switch state. This periodic action allows the ultrasonic blade to perform cutting and coagulation functions while reducing cumulative heat generation, preventing tissue damage and instrument overheating.
2Reliability
If clamp force is increased to achieve vessel sealing, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but tissue damage and operation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of high clamp force with an ultrasonic mechanical vibration system. The ultrasonic blade vibrates at high frequency to mechanically separate the inner muscle layer from the adventitia layer, achieving vessel sealing without requiring excessive clamp force. This substitution reduces tissue damage and simplifies the surgical operation while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If visual feedback is not provided to surgeon, then instrument simplicity is maintained, but cutting completeness cannot be determined leading to potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by providing visual, audible, or tactile signals to the surgeon indicating when tissue cutting is complete. The control circuit monitors the switch state and provides appropriate feedback signals. This feedback mechanism allows the surgeon to determine cutting completeness without increasing overall instrument complexity, preventing unnecessary continued operation that could cause tissue damage or instrument overheating.
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
This system enables improved vessel sealing by mechanically displacing the blade in multiple modes and provides visual, audible, or tactile feedback to the surgeon, preventing overheating and ensuring complete tissue transection.
Implementation Method 1
Vibrating at high frequencies (e.g., 55,500 times per second), the ultrasonic blade denatures protein in the tissue to form a sticky coagulum
Implementation Method 2
Ultrasonic energy cuts and coagulates by using lower temperatures than those used by electrosurgery. Vibrating at high frequencies (e.g., 55,500 times per second), the ultrasonic blade denatures protein in the tissue to form a sticky coagulum
Data Source
AI summary
A generator comprising an interface and a control circuit is disclosed. The interface is to electrically couple to an ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising a switch. The switch is configurable between a first switch state and a second switch state. The control circuit is to provide a continuous drive signal to the ultrasonic surgical instrument based on the switch being in the first switch state. The control circuit is to provide a pulsed drive signal to the ultrasonic surgical instrument based on the switch being in the second switch state.