Gas-enhanced energy-based surgical instrument, system, and method for minimally-invasive surgical procedures

Abstract

A surgical system includes a control assembly and a surgical instrument defining a gas inflow path, a gas outflow path, and an end effector configured to apply energy to tissue. The control assembly includes a gas output configured to connect to the gas inflow path, a gas input configured to connect to the gas outflow path, and an energy output configured to supply energy to the end effector. The control assembly further includes a controller to determine an amount of gas output from the gas output, determine an amount of gas withdrawn into the gas input, compare the amount of gas output and the amount of gas withdrawn, and control withdrawal of gas from the gas outflow path such that the amount of gas output and the amount of gas withdrawn are equal to one another or within a threshold margin of one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical system, comprising:
 a surgical instrument defining a gas inflow path, a gas outflow path, and an end effector configured to apply energy to tissue; and   a control assembly including a gas output configured to connect to the gas inflow path of the surgical instrument for supplying gas thereto, a gas input configured to connect to the gas outflow path of the surgical instrument to withdraw gas therefrom, and an energy output configured to supply energy to the end effector of the surgical instrument for application to tissue, the control assembly further including a controller having a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
 determine an amount of gas output from the gas output to the gas inflow path of the surgical instrument; 
 determine an amount of gas withdrawn into the gas input from the gas outflow path of the surgical instrument; 
 compare the amount of gas output and the amount of gas withdrawn; and 
 control withdrawal of gas from the gas outflow path of the surgical instrument such that the amount of gas output and the amount of gas withdrawn are equal to one another or within a threshold margin of one another. 
   
     
     
         2 . The surgical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control assembly includes a first pump configured to pump gas into the gas inflow path of the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control assembly includes a second pump configured to withdraw gas from the gas outflow path of the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control assembly includes a first sensor configured to sense at least one of: an output gas flow rate, an output gas pressure, or an output gas volume, and wherein the processor is further caused to determine the amount of gas output from the gas output to the gas inflow path of the surgical instrument based upon feedback from the first sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control assembly includes a second sensor configured to sense at least one of: an input gas flow rate, an input gas pressure, or an input gas volume, and wherein the processor is further caused to determine the amount of gas withdrawn into the gas input from the gas outflow path of the surgical instrument based upon feedback from the second sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control assembly is configured to supply gas from the gas output to the gas inflow path of the surgical instrument when the energy output supplies energy to the end effector of the surgical instrument for application to tissue. 
     
     
         7 . A surgical system, comprising:
 an electrode configured for insertion into an insufflated internal body cavity;   a gas inflow path configured to extend into the insufflated internal body cavity;   a gas outflow path configured to extend out of the insufflated internal body cavity; and   a control assembly including an energy output configured to supply energy to the electrode, a gas output configured to supply gas along the gas inflow path into the insufflated internal body cavity when energy is supplied to the electrode, and a gas input configured to selectively withdrawn gas from the insufflated internal body cavity with the gas outflow path, the control assembly further including a controller having a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
 determine an amount of gas supplied into the insufflated internal body cavity; 
 determine an amount of gas withdrawn from the insufflated internal body cavity; 
 compare the amount of gas supplied and the amount of gas withdrawn; and 
 control the withdrawal of gas from the insufflated internal body cavity such that the amount of gas supplied and the amount of gas withdrawn are equal to one another or within a threshold margin of one another. 
   
     
     
         8 . The surgical system according to  claim 7 , wherein the electrode is disposed on a surgical instrument, and wherein the gas inflow and gas outflow paths are defined through the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical system according to  claim 7 , wherein the control assembly includes a first pump configured to supply gas. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical system according to  claim 7 , wherein the control assembly includes a second pump configured to withdraw gas. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical system according to  claim 7 , wherein the control assembly includes a first sensor configured to sense at least one of: a gas flow rate, a gas pressure, or a gas volume, and wherein the processor is further caused to determine the amount of gas supplied based upon feedback from the first sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical system according to  claim 7 , wherein the control assembly includes a second sensor configured to sense at least one of: a gas flow rate, a gas pressure, or a gas volume, and wherein the processor is further caused to determine the amount of gas withdrawn based upon feedback from the second sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical system according to  claim 7 , wherein the control assembly is housed within an enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising;
 inserting a surgical instrument into an insufflated internal body cavity;   activating the surgical instrument to apply energy to tissue within the insufflated internal body cavity and introduce gas into the insufflated internal body cavity;   determining an amount of gas that is introduced into the insufflated internal body cavity; and   selectively withdrawing gas from the insufflated internal body cavity such that an amount of gas that is withdrawn is equal to or within a threshold margin of the amount of gas that is introduced.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein gas is provided from a control assembly to the surgical instrument for introduction into the insufflated internal body cavity, and wherein the control assembly includes a first sensor configured to sense at least one property indicative of the amount of gas that is introduced to enable determination of the amount of gas that is introduced. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein selectively withdrawing gas includes determining an amount of gas is withdrawn, comparing the amount of gas that is withdrawn with the amount of gas that is introduced, and determining whether to withdraw gas or not based upon a result of the comparison. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein gas is withdrawn from the insufflated internal body cavity into a control assembly, and wherein the control assembly includes a second sensor configured to sense at least one property indicative of the amount of gas that is withdrawn to enable determination of the amount of gas that is withdrawn.