Flexible Hand-Switch Circuit for Single-Wire Surgical Instrument Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operating rooms are cluttered with numerous devices requiring unique techniques and interfaces, leading to inefficiencies and increased equipment footprint, as existing surgical systems are not modular or interconnected, hindering staff efficiency during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A modular surgical platform with an energy module featuring a hand-switch circuit, surgical instrument interface, and control circuit that communicates using multiple protocols over a single wire, allowing for streamlined device integration and reduced equipment complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate surgical devices are used to perform different surgical tasks, then functional versatility is improved, but device complexity and equipment footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical system employs a universal hub device that can interface with multiple different surgical instruments through a single standardized connection interface. The hub contains a multiplexer that allows a single wire connection to support multiple communication protocols (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN), enabling one device to perform multiple functional roles and eliminate the need for separate dedicated devices for each surgical task.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments functionality into modular components: a central hub that provides communication and power management, and interchangeable surgical instruments that can be connected as needed. This segmentation allows the system to provide diverse surgical capabilities without requiring all functions to be present in one large complex device, instead using a coordinated system of specialized modules.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication protocols are supported for different surgical instruments, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hub acts as an intermediary device that contains the multiplexer circuitry to translate between different communication protocols. Rather than requiring each surgical instrument to support multiple protocols directly, the hub mediates communication by receiving signals from instruments using their native protocols and converting them to a standardized internal format, thereby supporting protocol diversity without increasing instrument complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single wire interface with multiplexer capability provides universal communication support across multiple protocols through one physical connection. The multiplexer dynamically configures the communication channel to match the required protocol, allowing the same physical interface to universally support I2C, SPI, UART, and CAN protocols without requiring separate dedicated connections for each protocol type.
3Ease of operation
If a single wire interface is used for communication, then ease of operation is improved, but communication capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The multiplexer switches between different communication protocols in periodic or time-multiplexed fashion over the single wire connection. By allocating different time slots for different protocols and using protocol-specific signaling patterns, the system can support multiple communication modes sequentially on the same physical channel, maintaining connection simplicity while expanding communication capability through temporal division.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes communication parameters (voltage levels, data rates, signaling modes) dynamically based on the required protocol. The single wire interface can operate in different electrical configurations - for example, using differential signaling for some protocols and single-ended for others, or adjusting voltage levels to match different protocol requirements - thereby providing versatile communication capability through parameter adaptation rather than physical connection diversity.
Data Source
AI summary
An energy module is disclosed. The energy module includes a hand-switch circuit, a surgical instrument interface coupled to the hand-switch circuit, and a control circuit coupled to the surgical instrument interface and the hand-switch circuit. The control circuit is configured to control the hand-switch circuit to communicate with a surgical instrument coupled to the hand-switch circuit using a plurality of communication protocols over a single wire. The control circuit is configured to control the hand-switch circuit to supply power to the instrument over the single wire.