Optical tissue feedback device for an electrosurgical device

Abstract

A tissue sensing device for use with an electrosurgical knife is proposed which comprises a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a grip portion there between. The proximal end portion is configured for attachment to a housing of the electrosurgical knife. The distal end portion is configured for movably supporting a blade of the knife. A distal end of an optical fiber is arranged at the distal end portion of the device and a proximal end of the optical fiber is connectable to an optical console, so that optical measurements can be performed at the distal end portion.

1 . A tissue sensing device configured to attach to an electrosurgical knife, the tissue sensing device comprising:
 a body having:
 a proximal end portion configured to receive a portion of a housing of the electrosurgical knife, 
 a distal end portion configured to movably support a blade of the electrosurgical knife, and 
 a grip portion positioned between the distal end portion and the proximal end portion; and 
   an optical fiber having:
 a distal end arranged at the distal end portion of the body, such that when the blade of the electrosurgical knife is supported by the distal end portion of the body, the distal end of the optical fiber is configured to be positioned separately from the blade, the distal end portion of the body configured to be moved relative to the blade, and 
 a proximal end connectable to an optical console. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tissue sensing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a guiding tube configured to movably accommodated the optical fiber within the guiding tube. 
     
     
         3 . The tissue sensing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a protection plug arranged at the distal end of the optical fiber, the protection plug configured to protect the optical fiber and transmit light therethrough. 
     
     
         4 . The tissue sensing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning element configured to clean a tip of the optical fiber when the optical fiber is moving inside the guiding tube. 
     
     
         5 . The tissue sensing device of  claim 4 , wherein the cleaning element comprises a brush configured to clean the blade of the electrosurgical knife. 
     
     
         6 . The tissue sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber is configured to be moved relative to the distal end portion of the body, such that the distal end of the optical fiber is configured to protrude beyond the distal end portion of the body. 
     
     
         7 . The tissue sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the optical fiber is configured to protrude beyond an end of the blade of the electrosurgical knife. 
     
     
         8 . The tissue sensing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a fiber connector configured to optically connect the optical fiber to an optical cable that is configured to connect to the optical console. 
     
     
         9 . The tissue sensing device of  claim 1 , further comprising the optical console connected to the proximal end of the optical fiber, wherein the optical console comprises:
 a light source configured to provide light to illuminate tissue,   a light detector configured to detect light reflected from the tissue, and   a processor configured to spectrally analyze the reflected light to measure diffuse reflectance and determine tissue properties based on the measured diffuse reflectance.   
     
     
         10 . The tissue sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the grip portion of the body is configured to be elastically deformed to move the distal end portion of the body relative to the blade of the electrosurgical knife. 
     
     
         11 . A system for cutting tissue, the system comprising:
 an electrosurgical knife comprising a housing and a blade; and   a tissue sensing device comprising:
 a body having:
 a proximal end portion configured to receive a portion of a housing of the electrosurgical knife, 
 a distal end portion configured to movably support a blade of the electrosurgical knife, and 
 a grip portion positioned between the distal end portion and the proximal end portion, and 
 
 an optical fiber having:
 a distal end arranged at the distal end portion of the body, such that when the blade of the electrosurgical knife is supported by the distal end portion of the body, the distal end of the optical fiber is configured to be positioned separately from the blade, the distal end portion of the body configured to be moved relative to the blade, and 
 a proximal end connectable to an optical console. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the electrosurgical knife further comprises a lever configured to move the distal end portion of the body between a first position in which the distal end portion of the body is located at a tip portion of the blade and a second position in which the distal end portion of the body is located near the housing of the electrosurgical knife. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the electrosurgical knife further comprises an elastic element configured to bias the distal end portion of the body in a direction relative to the tip portion of the blade. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the blade of the electrosurgical knife is coated with an anti-sticking layer. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the tissue sensing device further comprises an electrical console configured to provide electrical current to the blade of the electrosurgical knife. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the tissue sensing device further comprises a guiding tube configured to movably accommodated the optical fiber within the guiding tube. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , the tissue sensing device further comprises a protection plug arranged at the distal end of the optical fiber, the protection plug configured to protect the optical fiber and transmit light therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the optical fiber is configured to be moved relative to the distal end portion of the body, such that the distal end of the optical fiber is configured to protrude beyond the distal end portion of the body and beyond an end of the blade of the electrosurgical knife. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the tissue sensing device further comprises the optical console connected to the proximal end of the optical fiber, wherein the optical console comprises:
 a light source configured to provide light to illuminate tissue,   a light detector configured to detect light reflected from the tissue, and   a processor configured to spectrally analyze the reflected light to measure diffuse reflectance and determine tissue properties based on the measured diffuse reflectance.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the grip portion of the body is configured to be elastically deformed to move the distal end portion of the body relative to the blade of the electrosurgical knife.