Surgical Drive Unit Motor Winding Data Transmission
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical drive units with multiple motor windings require additional control and data lines for operation, which can lead to contact issues during cleaning and sterilization, compromising long-term reliability due to potential corrosion.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a motor winding that doubles as a transmitting and receiving device, allowing data to be read out through motor connection contacts without additional control or data lines, using contactless communication methods like electromagnetic waves, and incorporating a motor identification device for querying motor type and setting operating parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional control and data lines are provided for motor operation, then motor control capability is improved, but contact reliability deteriorates due to corrosion during cleaning and sterilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the data transmission function with the existing motor connection contacts. The motor windings themselves are used as transmitting and receiving devices, merging the control signal path and data communication path into a single contact interface. This eliminates separate control and data lines that would be susceptible to corrosion, while maintaining full motor control capability through the integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor connection contacts serve multiple functions: they provide power to the motor windings and simultaneously transmit data for motor identification and characterization. The motor windings dual-function as both electromagnetic components for motor operation and as transmitting/receiving devices for contactless data communication. This multi-functionality reduces the number of contacts required while improving reliability.
2Ease of operation
If separate control and data lines are used for motor operation, then motor control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control and data communication functions into the same physical interface (motor connection contacts). The system transmits both control signals and data through the existing motor wiring, eliminating the need for separate dedicated data lines. This reduces device complexity while maintaining precise motor control through the integrated communication protocol.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor connection system is designed to handle multiple functions through a unified interface. The same contacts that provide power and control signals also carry data for motor identification, characterization, and operational parameters. This universal interface approach simplifies the overall device architecture while preserving precise control capabilities.
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
This solution reduces the number of contacts, prevents corrosion-related reliability issues, and enables efficient data exchange for safe operation, enhancing the reliability and simplicity of surgical drive units by using existing motor connections for data transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a second transmitting and receiving device, which is connected to at least two connection contacts of the motor, and that the first and the second transmitting and receiving device are designed and interact in such a way that data can be transmitted between them without contact
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a surgical drive unit (14a-14e, 16a, 16b, 18) for a surgical instrument, comprising a motor (68) that has at least two motor windings (72b, 72e), and a memory device (90) for storing data characterizing the drive unit and/or the motor. In order to improve said surgical drive unit (14a-14e, 16a, 16b, 18) in such a way that drive units, instruments, and drive systems of the type described above become more reliable, the drive unit comprises a first transceiver (82a) which is connected to the memory device as well as a second transceiver (82b) that is connected to at least two terminal contacts (70a, 70e) of the motor. Furthermore, the first and the second transceiver are designed and cooperate such that data can be transmitted in a wireless manner therebetween. Also proposed are an improved surgical instrument (60) and a further developed surgical drive system.