Endoscope Control Device Safety Circuit Nesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscope control devices lack a reliable safety mechanism to maintain functionality and prevent malfunctions, particularly in critical medical scenarios where a malfunction could compromise patient safety.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a safety maintaining circuit within the control and activation sections of the endoscope control device, utilizing Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs) to ensure continuous operation of critical components like the lamp unit, even if the central processing unit (CPU) crashes or receives erroneous signals, by implementing a safety maintaining circuit that prevents unintended shutdowns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a safety maintaining circuit is added to the endoscope control device, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety maintaining circuit is nested within the control device by integrating it with the activation section. The activation section serves as a container that houses both the CPU activation functionality and the safety maintaining circuit, creating a nested structure where the safety circuit is embedded within the existing control architecture rather than adding a separate external component.
Solution Approach 2:
The activation section is designed to serve multiple functions: it activates the CPU, maintains safety through the safety maintaining circuit, and prevents unintended shutdowns. By making the activation section multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated components for each function, thereby improving reliability while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If the safety maintaining circuit is integrated in the same device as the control section, then reliability is improved through unified control, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety maintaining circuit is merged with the control device by integrating both circuits on the same substrate or within the same housing. The activation section combines the CPU activation circuitry and the safety maintaining circuit into a single integrated unit, allowing unified control and monitoring of both functions while reducing the number of separate components and interconnections required.
3Reliability
If the safety maintaining circuit prevents CPU activation during abnormalities, then safety is improved, but productivity decreases due to procedure interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The safety maintaining circuit acts as an intermediary between the CPU and the lamp unit control. When the CPU malfunctions or receives erroneous signals, the safety maintaining circuit intercepts control signals and maintains lamp operation independently, preventing complete system shutdown while still ensuring safety by isolating the faulty CPU from critical control functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety maintaining circuit is pre-configured to take over control functions before CPU failure completely disrupts operation. By having the safety circuit ready in advance within the activation section, it can immediately maintain lamp unit operation when CPU abnormalities occur, minimizing interruption time and ensuring continuous safe operation without waiting for故障 detection and response.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope control device includes: a safety maintaining circuit for maintaining safety in terms of function or use-purpose of the endoscope control device; a control section for controlling operation of the endoscope control device; and an activation section for activating the control section, wherein the safety maintaining circuit is formed in the same device as at least one of the control section and the activation section.