Common-Mode Choke for Optical Isolator Voltage Transients
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical isolator circuits in medical systems cannot handle voltage transients beyond a certain tolerance, leading to malfunction and data corruption during electrosurgical procedures when an electrosurgical instrument comes into contact with a force-sensing instrument.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a common-mode choke with wires wound around a core to reduce voltage transients to a level within the tolerance of the optical isolator circuit, ensuring proper signal transmission between isolated electrical circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an optical isolator circuit is used to transmit signals across the isolation barrier, then electrical isolation between circuits is maintained, but the circuit cannot handle voltage transients beyond a certain tolerance range
Solution Approach 1:
A common-mode choke is introduced as an intermediary component between the electrosurgical instrument and the optical isolator circuit. The choke acts as a mediator that conditions the electrical signals by suppressing voltage transients and common-mode noise, allowing the optical isolator to receive cleaned signals within its tolerance range while maintaining electrical isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The common-mode choke provides beforehand cushioning by pre-conditioning the signals before they reach the optical isolator circuit. The choke suppresses voltage transients and electrical noise in advance, protecting the sensitive optical isolator from damage and ensuring reliable signal transmission across the isolation barrier.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If electrical isolation is implemented to prevent current travel to ground, then patient safety and electronics protection are improved, but data transmission between circuits becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct electrical connection (mechanical/electrical coupling) with optical coupling across the isolation barrier. Data is transmitted by converting electrical signals to optical signals, crossing the isolation barrier optically, and converting back to electrical signals, thereby eliminating the direct current path while enabling data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
Optical isolator circuits serve as intermediaries that enable data transmission while maintaining electrical isolation. The optical isolator converts electrical signals to optical signals for transmission across the isolation barrier, and then converts them back, allowing data flow without creating a conductive path for harmful currents.
3Reliability
If a common-mode choke is added to reduce voltage transients, then optical isolator reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The common-mode choke is positioned as an intermediary component in the signal path, performing essential signal conditioning by suppressing voltage transients and common-mode noise. This single component adds minimal complexity while significantly improving the reliability and protection of the optical isolator circuit.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The common-mode choke effectively reduces voltage transients, preventing data corruption and ensuring reliable signal transmission between electrical circuits, even during high-voltage interactions, thus maintaining system integrity and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a common-mode choke comprising a plurality of wires wound around a core and configured to reduce a voltage transient at an input of the optical isolator circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument includes a housing configured to removably attach to a component separate from the surgical instrument, the component comprising a carriage attached to a main frame of a manipulator arm of a surgical system and configured to slidably move along the main frame, the housing comprising a first electrical circuit, and a common-mode choke. When the housing is removably attached to the component, the common-mode choke is coupled between the first electrical circuit and an optical isolator circuit included in the component, and the optical isolator circuit is configured to optically transmit data representative of a signal between the first electrical circuit and a second electrical circuit included in the component.