Flexible Data Structure for Electrosurgical Instrument Memory
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern electrosurgical systems face compatibility issues between newly developed instruments and older supply devices, where achieving full functionality of new instruments with older supply units results in losses in available functionalities due to incomplete downward compatibility.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a flexible data structure in the electrosurgical instrument's memory element allows for the storage and reading of multiple sets of configuration data, enabling compatibility with both older and newer supply device generations, including a fixed set for older devices and a variable set for newer devices, along with a termination data element to prevent memory access errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the memory element stores only a single fixed set of configuration data, then older supply devices can read and evaluate the data correctly, but newer supply devices cannot access additional configuration data for enhanced functionalities
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration data is segmented into multiple distinct sets stored at different memory addresses. The first set contains basic configuration data readable by all supply devices, while the second set contains additional configuration data for enhanced functionalities. This segmentation allows older supply devices to access the first set while newer supply devices can access both sets, thereby resolving the contradiction between compatibility and functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the memory element stores multiple sets of configuration data at different addresses, then both older and newer supply devices can access appropriate data, but the data structure becomes more complex and harder to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing configuration data in a predetermined structure with the first set at a fixed memory address and the second set at a dependent memory address. This preliminary organization eliminates the need for complex runtime searches or negotiations between supply devices and instruments, as the data locations are predetermined and easily accessible, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving downward compatibility.
3Reliability
If the first set of configuration data is stored at a fixed predetermined memory address, then older supply devices can reliably access it, but the second set of configuration data requires dynamic address calculation
Solution Approach 1:
The memory structure implements a nested organization where the first set of configuration data is stored at a fixed predetermined memory address that older supply devices can reliably access, while the second set is stored at a memory address that is nested dependent on the length of the first set. This nested structure ensures reliability for legacy devices while enabling extended functionality for newer devices through hierarchical data organization.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrosurgical system includes: an electrosurgical supply device, and an electrosurgical instrument, wherein the electrosurgical instrument includes a memory element which can be read out by the electrosurgical supply device when the electrosurgical instrument is connected to the electrosurgical supply device, and configuration data is stored on the memory element, which can be evaluated by the electrosurgical supply device in order to configure operating parameters which are compatible with the electrosurgical instrument. The electrosurgical system is characterized in that the configuration data is arranged in a flexible data structure which allows the memory element to simultaneously store multiple sets of configuration data which can be read and evaluated by different types of electrosurgical supply devices.