System and method used to determine tissue and/or artifact characteristics
Inventors
Shukair, Shetha • Chaturvedi, Amal • Subramanian, Hariharan
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11723600-B2
Publication Date
2023-08-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
A surgical system used to determine if a vessel is within a region proximate to a working end of a surgical instrument includes at least one light emitter configured to emit light of two different wavelengths. The system also includes at least one light sensor disposed opposite the at least one light emitter, the at least one light sensor configured to detect light at the two different wavelengths and to provide a signal having a pulsatile and a non-pulsatile component for each wavelength. The system further includes a controller coupled to the at least one light sensor and configured to determine and indicate if the vessel is a ureter within the region proximate to the working end of the surgical instrument based on a ratio and a symmetry of a dip in the non-pulsatile component.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a system used to determine if a ureter is within a region proximate to a working end of a surgical instrument. The system includes at least one light emitter disposed at the working end configured to emit light of two different wavelengths, and at least one light sensor array disposed at the working end opposite the at least one light emitter. Each individual light sensor in the array provides a signal having an alternating current (AC) component and a direct current (DC) component for each wavelength, enabling transmitted-light analysis focused on the non-pulsatile component.
A controller coupled to the light sensor array determines a ratio of the transmitted light at two different wavelengths. The controller determines whether a dip or decrease in the DC component of the signal between a first end and a second end of the light sensor array is present for each of the two wavelengths. If a dip is determined, the controller determines a symmetry of the dip about an axis of symmetry and indicates whether the ureter is within the region proximate to the working end based on the ratio and the symmetry.
In a method embodiment, a dye is administered and light of two different wavelengths is emitted at the working end while transmitted light at the two wavelengths is sensed at a light sensor array disposed at the working end. The method determines a ratio of the light transmitted at the two different wavelengths, determines a dip or decrease in the DC component between a first end and a second end, and determines a symmetry of the dip about an axis of symmetry when a dip is present. The method then indicates whether the ureter is within the region proximate to the working end based on the ratio and the symmetry.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are directed to a system and a method for determining whether a ureter is within a region proximate to a surgical instrument working end. The claims center on two-wavelength transmitted-light ratio evaluation with DC-component dip detection and dip symmetry analysis across a sensor array axis.
Two-wavelength transmitted-light ratio with DC-component dip and symmetry
A system used to determine if a ureter is within a region proximate to a working end, including at least one light emitter at the working end configured to emit light of two different wavelengths, at least one light sensor array opposite the emitter, and a controller determining a ratio of transmitted light at the two different wavelengths, determining a dip or decrease in the DC component between a first end and a second end of the sensor array, determining a symmetry of the dip about an axis of symmetry if a dip is determined, and indicating if the ureter is within the region proximate to the working end based on the ratio and the symmetry.
Dye-administered method using two-wavelength DC dip and symmetry
A method of determining if a ureter is within a region proximate to a working end of a surgical instrument, comprising administering a dye, emitting light of two different wavelengths at the working end, sensing light at the two different wavelengths at at least one light sensor array at the working end, determining a ratio of the light transmitted at the two different wavelengths, determining a dip or decrease in the DC component between a first end and a second end, determining a symmetry of the dip about an axis of symmetry if a dip is determined, and indicating if the ureter is within the region proximate to the working end based on the ratio and the symmetry.
Across the independent claims, ureter proximity is indicated by combining a transmitted-light ratio between two wavelengths with detection of a dip or decrease in a DC component over a sensor-array extent and, when present, assessment of the dip symmetry about an axis, with the method embodiment further including dye administration.
Stated Advantages
Enables determination of whether a ureter is within a region proximate to a working end of a surgical instrument.
Allows evaluation based on a ratio of transmitted light at two different wavelengths combined with symmetry of a dip in the non-pulsatile (DC) signal component.
Documented Applications
Surgical instrument use to determine whether a ureter is within a region proximate to the instrument working end during surgery.
Dye-based intraoperative sensing using two wavelengths and a sensor array at the working end to indicate ureter proximity.
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