Surgical Device Generator Control via Foot Pedal Priority Logic
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The use of multiple separate generators to power surgical devices during surgery poses safety concerns and technical challenges due to the potential for simultaneous activation of devices, especially when surgeons inadvertently press multiple foot pedals, leading to unpredictable and potentially harmful outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a processor communicatively coupled to multiple foot pedals and generators, which generates control signals based on foot pedal signals to ensure that only one surgical device is activated at a time, using a state machine to manage transitions and prevent accidental activations by requiring deactivation of one device before activating another.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate generators are used to power multiple surgical devices, then the surgical system can provide diverse energy types (core energy and advanced energy) to different surgical devices, but the system cannot prevent simultaneous activation of multiple devices when multiple foot pedals are pressed
Solution Approach 1:
A central controller acts as an intermediary between multiple foot pedals and separate generators. The controller receives activation signals from foot pedals, processes them according to priority rules, and generates control signals to activate only the appropriate generator(s). This intermediary prevents simultaneous activation by coordinating which generator responds to which pedal signal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes a priority hierarchy among different foot pedals and generators before surgery begins. When multiple pedals are pressed simultaneously, the controller refers to this pre-configured priority list to determine which device should activate first, preventing unpredictable simultaneous activation by having predetermined activation rules in place beforehand.
2Ease of manufacture
If external third-party generators are used that are not equipped to communicate with each other, then the surgical system can utilize existing independent generators, but the generators cannot coordinate their activation to prevent simultaneous device activation
Solution Approach 1:
The central controller is designed with universal communication capabilities that can interface with multiple different types of external generators without requiring each generator to have built-in communication hardware. The controller serves multiple functions: receiving pedal signals, determining priority, generating appropriate control signals, and coordinating activation across different generator types, thereby adding coordination capability without modifying the generators themselves.
3Productivity
If the system allows simultaneous activation of multiple surgical devices, then the surgeon can access multiple functions quickly, but the system creates unpredictable and potentially harmful outcomes
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements preliminary anti-action by pre-configuring priority rules that prevent harmful simultaneous activation before it can occur. When the surgeon presses multiple pedals, the controller proactively blocks activation of lower-priority devices based on the pre-established hierarchy, thereby preventing potential harm before the surgical scenario unfolds.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a plurality of surgical devices includes: receiving a foot pedal signal indicating a foot pedal activation of a first foot pedal of a plurality of foot pedals; generating a control signal based on the foot pedal signal, wherein: if the foot pedal signal indicates that only the first foot pedal is pressed, then generating the control signal to cause a generator to activate a first surgical device associated with the first foot pedal; if the foot pedal signal indicates that the first foot pedal remains pressed and a second foot pedal is newly pressed, then generating the control signal to cause the generator to: maintain activation of the first surgical device associated with the first foot pedal; and not activate a second surgical device associated with the second foot pedal; and outputting the control signal to the generator.