Inductive Charging for Sterile Surgical Instruments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reusable surgical instruments with electrically-powered components pose a challenge during surgery as they require electrical power, but existing methods like autoclaving restrict the use of certain materials, and existing charging solutions are not suitable for maintaining sterility within a surgical field.
Innovation Solution
A metallic surgical instrument case with an inductive charging system, comprising a primary and secondary coil configuration, allows for remote power transfer from outside the sterile area to the instruments within, ensuring sterility and efficient energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgical instruments are made of metal to withstand autoclaving, then they can be sterilized between uses, but they cannot include certain plastic materials needed for electrically-powered components
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the surgical instrument into sterile and non-sterile zones. The electrically-powered components are isolated in a non-sterile charging zone outside the sterile field, while only the surgical tools themselves enter the sterile field. This segmentation allows metal components to be autoclaved while plastic electronic components remain in the non-sterile zone and are powered via inductive coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
An inductive power transfer system acts as an intermediary between the non-sterile power source and sterile surgical instruments. The primary coil in the charging base and secondary coil in the instrument create a magnetic field coupling that transfers electrical energy without physical contact, allowing plastic-powered instruments to be used in sterile fields without direct electrical connections.
2Ease of operation
If electrical cables are connected to wall outlets to power surgical instruments, then the instruments can function during surgery, but the connection points must be accessible outside the sterile area
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces mechanical electrical cable connections with an inductive power transfer system. Instead of physically connecting cables from wall outlets to instruments, the system uses electromagnetic fields generated by primary and secondary coils to wirelessly transmit power across the sterile barrier, eliminating the need for cable access points and simplifying sterility maintenance.
3Ease of operation
If rechargeable batteries are used in surgical instruments, then the instruments can be powered without cables, but the batteries require charging that disrupts surgical workflow
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous power delivery during surgery through inductive coupling. Instead of interrupting surgery to charge batteries, the charging base continuously transfers power via magnetic fields while instruments remain in use. The primary coil in the base and secondary coil in each instrument maintain constant electromagnetic coupling, ensuring uninterrupted power supply throughout the surgical procedure.
4Productivity
If a charging system is placed within the sterile area to charge instruments during surgery, then continuous power is available, but the charging components themselves must maintain sterility
Solution Approach 1:
The inductive power transfer system serves as a sterile intermediary. The primary coil and its circuitry remain in the non-sterile charging base, while the secondary coil is integrated into or near the sterile instrument. The magnetic field coupling between these coils allows power transfer without requiring the charging electronics to physically enter or contaminate the sterile field, maintaining sterility while enabling continuous charging.
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
Enables the reliable and efficient charging of electrically-powered surgical instruments within a sterile surgical field, maintaining sterility and ensuring continuous functionality during procedures.
Implementation Method 1
A lower housing is secured underneath the instrument case. The lower housing includes a first induction coil and related circuitry to receive power from a primary induction coil located outside the sterile area. An upper housing is positioned within the chamber of the metallic instrument case. The upper housing includes second induction coil that is electrically connected to the first induction coil so that the second induction coil can receive power from the first induction coil.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument system and method are disclosed. The surgical instrument system includes an instrument case and a charging plate that may be placed in a sterile surgical field. The charging plate is configured to receive electrical power from outside the sterile surgical field and transmit that electrical power to other devices within the sterile field.