Modular Surgical Hub with Positional Awareness and Sequence Control
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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 and procedural streamline.
Innovation Solution
A modular surgical system comprising a control module and multiple surgical modules that can be stacked and interconnected, utilizing a pulse generator for clock pulse signals to initiate timers and sequence signals for coordinated module operations, facilitating a unified interface and reduced device interaction.
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 hub is designed as a universal platform that can perform multiple surgical functions through different modules. The hub includes a control circuit that can execute different surgical procedures and coordinate multiple modules (electrosurgical module, ultrasonic module, advanced energy module, robotic module) to provide diverse surgical capabilities from a single integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple previously separate surgical devices into a single integrated surgical hub. The hub merges control functions, power delivery, module coordination, and user interface into one centralized system, reducing the number of separate capital equipment devices needed in the operating room while maintaining all necessary surgical functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate surgical devices with unique interfaces are used, then specialized functionality is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to multiple unique techniques required
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical hub provides a unified user interface that can control all surgical modules through a single system. The control circuit responds to user inputs and coordinates module operations through a consistent interface, eliminating the need for surgical staff to learn multiple unique techniques for different devices while maintaining specialized surgical capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit acts as an intermediary between the user interface and the various surgical modules. It translates user commands into appropriate module-specific operations, providing a unified interface that simplifies operation while maintaining access to specialized functions through a single point of control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple independent surgical devices are deployed, then functional capability is improved, but loss of time increases due to increased device interactions required
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple surgical devices into a single integrated hub, the system eliminates the need for repeated setup, calibration, and coordination between independent devices. The control circuit manages all modules centrally, reducing the time lost to device interactions and streamlining surgical workflow while maintaining full functional capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical hub performs preliminary coordination and setup of multiple modules before surgical procedures begin. The control circuit pre-configures module interactions and establishes communication protocols in advance, eliminating time-consuming setup and coordination steps during actual surgical procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular surgical system for use in a surgical procedure is disclosed. The modular surgical system includes a control module, a first surgical module arrangeable in a stack configuration with the control module, and a second surgical module arrangeable in a stack configuration with the control module and the first surgical module. The first surgical module includes a first counter module, a first stop-counter module configured to receive a sequence signal that causes the first stop-counter module to disable the first counter module from incrementing at a first final count, and a first delay module. The second surgical module includes a second counter module and a second stop-counter module configured to receive the sequence signal from the first surgical module after a predetermined delay. The sequence signal causes the second stop-counter module to disable the second counter module from incrementing at a second final count.