Ultrasonic Surgical Instrument Moisture Compression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ultrasonic surgical instruments face inefficiencies due to energy absorption by tissue moisture, leading to increased operative times and heat damage to adjacent tissues.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates jaw members that compress tissue to remove moisture prior to treatment, utilizing sensors to detect moisture content and adjust compression, thereby minimizing energy absorption and reducing thermal spread.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If ultrasonic energy is applied directly to tissue, then tissue cutting and sealing is achieved, but energy is absorbed by water in tissue causing increased operative time and thermal spread to adjacent tissue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperative timeVSAvoidthermal spread to adjacent tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using jaw members to compress and desiccate tissue before ultrasonic treatment. The jaw members remove moisture from the tissue surface, creating a drier state that allows ultrasonic energy to work more efficiently on the target tissue without excessive energy absorption, thereby reducing operative time and minimizing thermal spread to adjacent tissues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If moisture is removed from tissue before treatment, then ultrasonic energy efficiency is improved, but additional device complexity is required for compression and moisture detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveultrasonic energy efficiencyVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The jaw members serve multiple functions: they compress the tissue, remove moisture through compression, and provide a platform for moisture detection sensors. By combining these functions into a single component structure, the patent avoids adding separate devices for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while achieving improved ultrasonic energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The compression mechanism itself facilitates moisture removal as a byproduct of the compression action. The mechanical compression naturally forces moisture out of the tissue, and the same compressed state enhances the effectiveness of subsequent ultrasonic treatment. This self-service approach means the primary compression function automatically contributes to moisture removal without requiring additional active systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of energy

If jaw members compress tissue to remove moisture, then energy absorption is reduced, but the compression mechanism adds device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy absorption by tissue moistureVSAvoidcompression mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts moisture from the tissue using the compression action of the jaw members. By mechanically compressing the tissue, moisture is forced out and removed from the treatment area. This extraction of the harmful element (moisture) directly reduces energy absorption during ultrasonic treatment, and the extraction is achieved through the existing compression mechanism rather than adding a separate moisture removal system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 approach reduces operative time and minimizes heat damage to adjacent tissues by ensuring effective desiccation of the tissue before ultrasonic treatment.

Implementation Method 1

jaw members configured to compress tissue of interest for removing moisture therefrom

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical compression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

ultrasonic energy is utilized to vibrate (e.g., at frequency usually in the range of 20 KHz to 60 KHz) the active member to treat tissue of interest

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Implementation Method 3

much of the energy that would otherwise be utilized to dissect or seal tissue with ultrasonic instruments is absorbed by the water present in tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic energy absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentUS9351755B2Ultrasonic surgical instruments

Publication Date: 2016.05.31 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

An ultrasonic surgical instrument is provided. The ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a housing having an elongated shaft extending therefrom. A first jaw member disposed at a distal end of the shaft is movable between open and clamping configurations. A pair of second jaw members disposed at the distal end of the shaft are movable between open and clamping configurations. A cutting blade extending to the distal end of the shaft is operably coupled to the housing. The pair of second jaw members and first jaw member are moveable to the clamping configuration to compress tissue of interest for removing moisture therefrom prior to the tissue of interest being treated.