System and Method for Determining Proximity Relative to a Critical Structure

• US 20110224668A1
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Valentine, Christopher A., Alexander, Scott F., Podhajsky, Ronald J., Johnson, Kristin D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,864,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00345 Vascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation

Abstract

A system for determining proximity of a surgical device relative to an anatomical structure includes at least one surgical device having a sensor assembly operably coupled to a processing unit. The sensor assembly is configured to transmit at least one electrical signal through the target anatomical structure to elicit a measurable response from the target anatomical structure. The processing unit is configured to calculate a signature property value of the target anatomical structure based on the measurable response and to determine proximity of the at least one surgical device relative to the target anatomical structure based on a comparison between the signature property value and at least one other signature property. An indicator is operably coupled to the processing unit and is configured to alert a user of the identified target anatomical structure based on the determined proximity.

Claims

1. A system for determining proximity of a surgical device relative to an anatomical structure, comprising:

at least one surgical device having a sensor assembly operably coupled to a processing unit and configured to transmit at least one electrical signal generated by the processing unit through the target anatomical structure to elicit a measurable response from the target anatomical structure,

the processing unit configured to calculate a signature property value of the target anatomical structure based on the measurable response, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine proximity of the at least one surgical device relative to the target anatomical structure based on a comparison between the signature property value and at least one other signature property; and

an indicator operably coupled to the processing unit and configured to alert a user of the identified target anatomical structure based on the determined proximity of the at least one surgical device relative to the target anatomical structure.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising an electrosurgical energy source operably coupled with at least one surgical device and adapted to supply electrosurgical energy thereto for application to tissue.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the processing unit is configured to modify the supply of electrosurgical energy to the at least one surgical device based on the determined proximity of the at least one surgical instrument relative to the target anatomical structure.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly includes at least one transmitting electrode configured to transmit the electrical signal and at least one receiving electrode configured to receive the electrical signal.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the electrical signal is configured to be transmitted from the at least one transmitting electrode disposed on a first surgical device to the at least one receiving electrode disposed on a second device via at least one of the target anatomical structure and a content within of the target anatomical structure.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein one of the first and second surgical devices is positionable relative to the target anatomical structure and the other surgical device is positionable proximate the exterior of the target anatomical structure.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the indicator is configured to generate at least one of an audio indication and a visual indication.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the indication changes in at least one of volume, brightness, color, timing, and frequency as the proximity of the at least one surgical device relative to the target anatomical structure changes.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to identify the target anatomical structure based on the comparison between the signature property value and the at least one other signature property.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the measurable response is based on the transmission of the electrical signal through at least one of tissue of the target anatomical structure and at least one fluid within the target anatomical structure.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the measurable response is one of impedance, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, hydraulic conductivity, permittivity, and capacitance of the target anatomical structure.

12. A method for identifying an anatomical structure, the method comprising the steps of:

placing at least one surgical device having a sensor assembly disposed thereon relative to a target anatomical structure;

transmitting at least one electrical signal from the sensor assembly through the target anatomical structure to elicit a measurable response from the anatomical structure;

calculating one or more signature properties of the target anatomical structure based on the measureable response;

comparing values of the one or more measured signature properties to at least one other measured signature property;

identifying the target anatomical structure based on the comparison between the one or more measured signature properties and at least one other measured signature property;

determining proximity of the at least one surgical device relative to the target anatomical structure; and

alerting a user of the identified target anatomical structure based on the determined proximity of the at least one surgical device relative to the target anatomical structure.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the transmitting step further comprises the step of:

transmitting the at least one electrical signal from a transmitting electrode through at least one of the target anatomical structure and a content of the target anatomical structure to a receiving electrode.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the transmitting electrode is disposed on a first surgical device and the receiving electrode is disposed on a second surgical device.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein one of the first and second surgical devices is configured to be positionable relative to the target anatomical structure and the other surgical device is positionable proximate the exterior of the target anatomical structure.

16. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of modifying the supply of electrosurgical energy to the at least one surgical device based on the identifying step.

17. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of positioning at least one electrosurgical device relative to the target anatomical structure based on the alerting step.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of selectively applying energy from the electrosurgical device to the target anatomical structure based on the identifying step.

19. A method for determining proximity of a surgical device relative to an anatomical structure, the method comprising the steps of:

placing at least one surgical device having a sensor assembly disposed thereon relative to a target anatomical structure;

transmitting at least one electrical signal from the sensor assembly through the target anatomical structure to elicit a measurable response from the target anatomical structure;

calculating one or more signature properties of the target anatomical structure based on the measureable response;

comparing values of the one or more measured signature properties to at least one other measured signature property;

identifying the target anatomical structure based on the comparison between the one or more measured signature properties and at least one other measured signature property;

determining proximity of the at least one surgical device relative to the target anatomical structure;

alerting a user of the identified target anatomical structure based on the determined proximity of the at least one surgical device relative to the target anatomical structure;

positioning at least one electrosurgical device relative to the target anatomical structure based on the alert; and

selectively applying energy from the electrosurgical device to the target anatomical structure based on the identifying step.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the selectively applying step further comprises grasping the target anatomical structure between opposing jaw members of the electrosurgical device prior to selectively applying energy to the target anatomical structure.