Shape Memory Actuator for Surgical Training Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical training devices for cardiac surgery on beating hearts are complex and costly due to the need for motorized mechanisms to simulate the intricate movements of a beating heart, which are difficult to replicate and require high surgical skills, making training less effective and more expensive.
Innovation Solution
A surgical operation training device using shape memory materials that contract with electric current to control the movement of a training object, allowing for complex heart surface simulations without motors, with adjustable voltage and pulse waveforms to mimic various heart conditions, and an expandable-contractible balloon to simulate internal organ movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If motorized mechanisms are used to simulate complex heart movements, then the realism of training is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces motorized mechanical mechanisms with a pneumatic system. A balloon connected to a reservoir via a tube uses pneumatic pressure to simulate heart movements. The control unit regulates air flow to create pulsating movements that mimic cardiac cycles, eliminating the need for motors, gears, and other complex mechanical components while maintaining training realism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a pneumatic system where a reservoir stores compressed air that is delivered through a tube to inflate a balloon. The balloon's expansion and contraction simulates heart movements. The control unit manages the pneumatic pressure to reproduce various cardiac motion patterns, providing a simplified yet effective alternative to motorized mechanisms
2Reliability
If multiple independent undulating means are added to reproduce complex heart movements, then the training effectiveness is improved, but the manufacturing cost and device size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single balloon multi-functional by programming it to reproduce various types of heart movements through controlled pneumatic pressure variations. The control unit can generate different pressure patterns to simulate normal sinus rhythm, atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and other cardiac conditions, allowing one component to perform multiple training functions that would otherwise require multiple specialized mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the pneumatic system (pressure, flow rate, pulse frequency, duty cycle) to simulate different cardiac conditions. By varying these parameters, the single balloon can reproduce diverse heart movement patterns, eliminating the need for multiple physical undulating means while maintaining training effectiveness across various surgical scenarios
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
The device provides a cost-effective and simplified means to simulate complex heart movements, allowing for versatile training scenarios that closely mimic actual surgical conditions, reducing the complexity and cost of the training system while enhancing the realism and effectiveness of surgical training.
Implementation Method 1
the connecting member is formed of a shape memory material able to contract with respect to an original shape when an electric current flows through the connecting member
Implementation Method 2
when an electric current flows through the connecting member
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical operation training device 13 comprises a simulation body 83 subjected to a predetermined treatment during surgical operation training, a holder 84 for holding the simulation body 83 from below, a support 85 for supporting the holder 84 workably, a wire 86 for coupling the holder 84 with the support 85, and a control unit 71 for controlling operation of the holder 84. The wire 86 is formed of a shape memory material which can contract from an original shape when a current flows through the wire. The control unit 71 comprises a drive signal generating means 114 for supplying a current to the wire 86 at a predetermined timing and for performing operation control on the holder 84 with a change in the shape of the wire 86 by varying the supply state of current to the wire 86.