Surgical Device Broker Engine Wireless Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Surgical devices, such as microscopes, require precise control and frequent physical interaction, which can lead to contamination risks and increased cabling, limiting user mobility in sterile environments.

Innovation Solution

A communications system with a broker engine that enables wireless, event-based bidirectional communication between a surgical device and a remote device, reducing physical contact through serial and wireless interfaces, allowing remote control, diagnostics, and data transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If physical contact control means are used for surgical devices, then control precision is improved, but microbial transmission risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidmicrobial transmission risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A wireless communication system acts as an intermediary between the user and the surgical device. The system includes a wireless communication interface that receives instructions from a user device and transmits control instructions to the surgical device via a serial communication interface, eliminating the need for direct physical contact while maintaining precise control through digital signal transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If cabling is reduced for surgical devices, then user mobility is improved, but control reliability may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser mobilityVSAvoidcontrol reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical cabling system is replaced with a wireless communication system. The wireless communication interface transmits control instructions and data bidirectionally between the surgical device and the user device, eliminating physical cables while maintaining reliable control through standardized wireless communication protocols and error handling mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If wireless communication is implemented for surgical devices, then physical contact is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephysical contact reductionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless communication interface is designed to perform multiple functions: receiving control instructions from user devices, transmitting device status data, supporting bidirectional communication, and interfacing with the existing serial communication interface of the surgical device. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4016491A1Communications system for a surgical device, surgical system, and method of control

Publication Date: 2022.06.22 LEICA INSTRUMENTS (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD

Figure 1~5
Figure 4

AI summary

A communications system for a surgical device which includes a broker engine (BE) is disclosed. The BE has a serial communications interface which communicatively couples to a surgical device, and a wireless communications interface which communicatively couples to a remote device. The wireless communications interface receives an incoming instruction from the remote device. The BE performs tasks such as transmitting a control instruction based on the incoming instruction, the transmission being via the serial communications interface. The control instructions control the surgical device.