Method for Detecting Ablation Damage Using Sensor Integration of Hot Biopsy Forceps

摘要

The most dangerous and most common type of electrosurgery used today is monopolar electrosurgery [1]. Achieving the desired effects during electrosurgery largely remains an art form rather then a science. Surgeons must rely on experience and intuition to estimate the thermal damage by trial and error [2]. The only indication of the degree of thermal damage is done by visual inspection of the ablation site and monitoring the growth of the white peripheral crest, which indicates protein denaturation. From this white peripheral crest, it is up to the surgeon to estimate the depth of thermal damage. Underestimating the depth of thermal damage ultimately leads to perforation of an organ, which is a life-threatening complication for the patient. Adding to the difficulty in establishing acceptable limits for thermal injury, in real-time, is the fact that perforations are commonly delayed - occurring at any point in time after the surgery is complete [3]. This increased time between the surgeon's action and result, adds an extra level of difficulty to estimating the degree of thermal damage. Moreover, this also makes it difficult to determine the actual perforation rate during electrosurgery. In the case of therapeutic screening for colorectal cancer, perforation of the large intestine has a mortality rate of 5% [4].