Marker Band Locator with Vacuum Seating Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual configuration of marker bands on medical devices during surgery is tedious and inefficient, as they are small and require precise orientation before placement.
Innovation Solution
A marker band locator system that uses geometric positioning and gas pressure to ensure proper seating of marker bands in a band receiver, employing a hopper and indexer with a vacuum source to check for threshold vacuum pressure and automatically adjust to seat or remove improperly positioned bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual configuration of marker bands is used, then flexibility and control are maintained, but the process is tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a vacuum source to automatically detect and verify marker band seating in the band receiver without manual intervention. The vacuum pressure sensor detects whether a marker band is properly positioned, and the system automatically triggers gas pressure bursts to reposition bands that are not correctly seated, eliminating the need for manual configuration while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a vacuum source connected to the band receiver to create negative pressure for detecting marker band presence and proper seating. Additionally, a gas pressure source provides controlled bursts of positive pressure to jostle and reposition marker bands that are not correctly oriented, enabling fully automated marker band configuration without manual handling.
2Manufacturing precision
If geometric positioning with vacuum verification is used, then marker band placement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum source acts as an intermediary mechanism between the marker band and the detection system. By creating a vacuum environment in the band receiver, the system can indirectly detect the presence and proper positioning of the marker band through pressure sensor readings, avoiding the need for complex direct measurement or visual inspection systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors vacuum pressure as a parameter to determine marker band positioning status. When the vacuum pressure sensor detects that the pressure has not risen above a threshold level after a vacuum cycle, it indicates improper marker band seating. This simple parameter-based detection method provides high precision orientation verification without requiring complex imaging or measurement equipment.
3Ease of operation
If automatic vacuum verification and gas pressure adjustment are implemented, then manual effort is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas pressure source operates in periodic bursts rather than continuously. The system applies vacuum to verify marker band positioning, and only when improper positioning is detected does it trigger a brief burst of gas pressure to reposition the band. This periodic, on-demand operation minimizes energy consumption while maintaining ease of automatic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum pressure sensor provides real-time feedback on marker band positioning status. The control system uses this feedback to determine whether gas pressure bursts are necessary, applying energy only when needed to correct improper positioning. This feedback-controlled approach reduces overall energy consumption compared to continuous gas pressure application, while maintaining simple automatic operation.
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
Automatically and efficiently orients and secures marker bands on medical devices, reducing manual effort and ensuring accurate placement, thereby streamlining the surgical process.
Implementation Method 1
A gas vacuum source produces a vacuum on the band receiver and if a marker band is properly located therein, the marker band forms an effective seal with the band receiver and the vacuum pressure exceeds a threshold vacuum pressure level
Implementation Method 2
If the vacuum pressure does not rise above the threshold vacuum pressure level, then a marker band is not properly located in the band receiver and a burst of air from a gas pressure source moves an improperly positioned marker band out of the band receiver and jostles the marker bands in the hopper
Implementation Method 3
The band receiver inlet opening is configured under the outlet opening of the hopper when the indexer is in a locating position
Data Source
AI summary
A marker band locator system locates a marker band, from a plurality of marker bands in a hopper, into a band receiver for further processing. A hopper is configured to loosely hold a plurality of marker bands and a band receiver, configured in an indexer, is configured under the hopper such that marker bands gravity feed down to the band receiver. A vacuum source produces a vacuum on the band receiver and if a marker band is properly located therein, the marker band forms a seal with the band receiver and the vacuum pressure exceeds a threshold vacuum pressure level. The indexer then actuates to a secondary position for further processing and removal of the marker band. If the vacuum pressure does not exceed the threshold, a burst of air jostles the marker bands in the hopper until a marker band is seated properly.