Ultrasonic Surgical Switch Control for Vessel Sealing Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic surgical instruments face challenges in effectively sealing blood vessels and providing visual feedback to users during tissue cutting, leading to potential damage from excessive heat generation and inefficiencies in current technologies.
Innovation Solution
The development of an ultrasonic surgical system that includes a tissue impedance module and a frequency step function algorithm, which monitors tissue impedance to separate the inner muscle layer from the adventitia layer before applying ultrasonic energy for sealing, and provides feedback through visual, audible, or tactile indicators to ensure complete cutting and coagulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultrasonic energy is applied directly to seal blood vessels, then sealing function is provided, but the inner muscle layer cannot be properly separated from the adventitia layer leading to poor sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies a first ultrasonic drive signal at a frequency that causes the inner muscle layer to vibrate and separate from the adventitia layer before applying the second drive signal for sealing. This preliminary separation action ensures optimal conditions for subsequent vessel sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the ultrasonic drive signal frequency in two stages: first applying a frequency optimized for tissue layer separation, then switching to a frequency optimized for vessel sealing. This dynamic frequency adjustment allows the system to adapt to different operational requirements.
2Manufacturing precision
If continuous ultrasonic activation is used to ensure complete cutting, then cutting completeness is improved, but excessive heat is generated causing tissue damage and instrument wear
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic ultrasonic activation with on/off cycling during the cutting process. This allows complete cutting to be achieved over time while periodic interruptions prevent excessive heat accumulation, reducing tissue damage and instrument wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors cutting progress and provides feedback indicators to the user. When the cut is determined to be complete, the system can adjust activation patterns or provide visual/audible feedback to prevent continued activation that would generate excessive heat.
3Device complexity
If no feedback indicator is provided during cutting, then device complexity is reduced, but the user cannot determine when cutting is complete leading to continued activation and heat damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback indicators (visual, audible, or tactile) that provide real-time information to the user about cutting progress. When the cut is complete, the feedback indicator changes state to alert the user, preventing continued activation and associated heat damage.
4Productivity
If standard ultrasonic frequency is used for cutting, then cutting function is provided, but the inner muscle layer separation required for optimal sealing is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the ultrasonic drive signal frequency based on the operational phase: using a first frequency optimized for rapid cutting and tissue layer separation, then switching to a second frequency optimized for reliable vessel sealing. This dynamic adaptation resolves the conflict between cutting efficiency and sealing quality.
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 solution enhances vessel sealing efficiency, reduces heat generation, and provides reliable feedback to surgeons, minimizing tissue damage and instrument wear, while improving hemostasis and reducing energy consumption.
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
The ultrasonic transducer may be modeled as an equivalent circuit having first branch comprising a static capacitance and a second 'motional' branch comprising a serially connected inductance, resistance and capacitance that defines the electromechanical properties of the resonator
Implementation Method 3
The ultrasonic transducer may be modeled as an equivalent circuit having first branch comprising a static capacitance and a second 'motional' branch comprising a serially connected inductance, resistance and capacitance that defines the electromechanical properties of the resonator
Data Source
AI summary
A system configured to control operation of an ultrasonic surgical instrument is disclosed. The system comprises a generator configured to generate a signal, and a computer communicably coupled to the generator. The computer is configured to receive a first set of variables corresponding to a first signal at a first power level of the instrument, evaluate the first set of variables with a model to generate a first output, wherein the first output comprises a value between the first set of variables and a condition set, and wherein the condition set comprises a plurality of conditions that correspond to a plurality of responses, determine the first output meets a first threshold value for a first condition; determine a first response corresponding to the first condition, wherein the first response is a second power level for the instrument, and transmit the second power level to the generator for a second signal.