Modular Electro Surgical Generator With Coupling Identifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in manufacturing electro surgical generators that can be configured in various ways to accommodate different medical needs while ensuring safety and reliability, as existing solutions face increased manufacturing errors and risks due to the complexity of adapting multiple modules, which can lead to incorrect identification of components and miscommunication of emergency signals.
Innovation Solution
The electro surgical generator is designed with modular functional components, including an input power module, inverter module, output module, energy distribution module, communication module, and control base modules, each equipped with a coupling identifier for correct identification and communication, allowing for flexible configuration and safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electro surgical generators are individually designed to accommodate different medical needs with various modules and sockets, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal socket design that can accommodate multiple types of electro surgical instruments through a single standardized interface. This universal socket works in conjunction with a configurable inverter system that can be adapted to provide different output characteristics, allowing one physical socket to serve multiple functions and instrument types, thereby reducing the number of different sockets needed while maintaining versatility
2Adaptability or versatility
If electro surgical generators are individually designed to accommodate different medical needs with various modules and sockets, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a universal socket design, the patent reduces the variety of components that need to be manufactured with high precision. Instead of manufacturing many different socket types, each with unique precision requirements, a single universal socket design is produced, simplifying manufacturing while still accommodating different instruments through software configuration and adaptable inverter control
3Reliability
If multiple modules are adapted to ensure correct functioning and safety, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a communication bus system that enables continuous feedback and status monitoring between the control unit and all connected modules including the universal socket and inverter. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically detect module status, verify correct connections, and coordinate operations, thereby improving reliability through automated monitoring rather than requiring complex manual adaptation of multiple independent modules
4Device complexity
If a universal socket and configurable inverter are used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The universal socket is designed as a single standardized component that can physically accommodate multiple instrument types. The manufacturing precision requirement is concentrated on this single universal design rather than distributed across many different socket types. The configurability of the inverter through software further reduces hardware complexity while maintaining the precision needed for different output requirements through controlled parameter adjustment rather than physical adaptation
5Ease of operation
If modules communicate via a communication bus, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication bus system is designed to automatically establish connections and exchange status information between modules without requiring manual configuration or intervention. The control unit autonomously manages communication with the universal socket, inverter, and other modules, detecting their presence and capabilities automatically. This self-service capability improves ease of operation by eliminating manual setup while the standardized bus protocol keeps the added complexity manageable through automation rather than manual adaptation
Data Source
AI summary
An electro surgical generator for generating feed signals for feeding electro surgical instruments, includes functional modules which include at least one inverter module for generating a feed signal providing high frequency energy for at least one instrument, and at least one output module connecting an instrument to the output module, wherein at least one, some or all functional modules include a coupling identifier making the respective module distinguishable from others which are different, at least one of the functional modules or a electro surgical generator communication module are adapted to identify the functional module by the coupling identifier, and a bus system is provided for communication between the modules and/or the communication module, and/or some or all of the functional modules have a control base module controlling the respective functional module and/or for operating a communication of the respective functional module with another functional module and/or with the communication module.