Surgical Console Instrument-Footswitch Mapping With Visual Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical systems lack efficient methods to associate handheld surgical instruments with input devices and provide clear visual indicators for their corresponding associations, leading to potential confusion and inadvertent control transfers during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A console-based surgical system that integrates handheld surgical instruments and input devices, such as footswitches, with a controller that associates instrument ports with footswitch ports and utilizes visual indicators to confirm the correct associations, allowing surgeons to map and control instruments through a touchscreen interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual indicators are added to indicate instrument-footswitch associations, then operator awareness and control accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color-coded visual indicators (LEDs) on both the console and handheld instruments to indicate association status. Different colors represent different association states, enabling the operator to quickly identify which instrument is associated with which footswitch without adding complex identification mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time visual feedback through illuminated indicators that show the current association between instruments and footswitches. This feedback mechanism allows the operator to verify connections and detect inadvertent disassociations immediately, maintaining control accuracy while using a relatively simple indicator system.
2Productivity
If the system automatically detects and indicates instrument associations, then operational efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects instrument associations through the electrical connection established when instruments are connected to the console. The association is determined by the controller based on the electrical pathway, eliminating the need for manual configuration or complex pairing protocols. The visual indicators then self-update to reflect the detected associations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual association setup with automatic electrical detection. The controller uses the electrical connection status to determine associations, substituting a simple electrical sensing mechanism for what would otherwise require manual configuration interfaces or complex wireless pairing systems.
3Loss of information
If multiple visual indicators are distributed across console and instruments, then operator awareness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The visual indication system is segmented into multiple independent indicators distributed across the console and handheld instruments. Each indicator is a self-contained LED element that can be manufactured and tested independently, then assembled into the final system. This modular approach improves operator awareness while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses universal LED indicator components that serve multiple functions: indicating association status, providing visual feedback, and serving as connection status indicators. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized components, simplifying manufacturing while providing comprehensive visual information to the operator.
Data Source
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AI summary
A console-based surgical system comprises a plurality of handheld surgical instruments, each instrument having a connector line and an instrument visual indicator coupled to the instrument and/or connector line. The system further comprises a footswitch having a connector line and a footswitch visual indicator coupled the footswitch and/or connector line. The system further comprises a console, which in turn comprises a plurality of instrument ports, with the connector lines of the handheld instruments being connected to the instrument ports. The console further comprises a footswitch port, with the connector line of the footswitch connected to the footswitch port. The console further comprises a controller configured to associate the footswitch port with one of the instrument ports such that the footswitch is operable to actuate a function of the handheld surgical instrument connected to the associated instrument port. The controller is further configured to activate the footswitch visual indicator and the instrument visual indicator of the associated instrument port to display outputs that correspond with one another.