Surgical Instrument Control Circuit Timer Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing powered surgical instruments lack reliable interlock features to prevent inadvertent firing and jaw manipulation during conditions such as the absence of a staple cartridge, improper installation, or incomplete closure, which can lead to unsafe cutting and stapling operations and mechanical damage.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument equipped with sensors and a memory device that monitor and record the state of the end effector and trigger conditions, preventing firing when unsafe conditions are detected, and providing user feedback through a motor-driven system with proportional sensor control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If interlock features are added to prevent inadvertent firing, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by requiring specific sequences of operations before firing is permitted. The system checks for proper cartridge installation, closure trigger positioning, and anvil alignment before enabling the firing trigger. This prevents inadvertent firing by ensuring all necessary conditions are met in advance, thereby improving safety without requiring complex real-time monitoring systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms through sensors that monitor the state of various components (cartridge presence, closure trigger position, anvil alignment) and provide information to the control circuit. This feedback enables the system to dynamically control whether firing is permitted, improving safety while using relatively simple electronic components rather than complex mechanical interlocks.
2Reliability
If more monitoring and recording features are added, then operational safety is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit performs multiple functions: it monitors sensor inputs, determines unsafe conditions, controls the firing mechanism, and operates the user interface. By consolidating these functions into a single integrated circuit rather than using separate components for each function, the patent reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining comprehensive safety monitoring and control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically monitors its own operational state through integrated sensors and control logic, eliminating the need for separate monitoring systems. The control circuit self-regulates firing permissions based on real-time conditions, reducing the need for additional external safety devices and thereby lowering manufacturing costs while improving operational safety.
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical instruments and/or fastener apparatuses comprising an end effector with a pair of jaws pivoted at a proximal end thereof and movable between an open and closed position. At least one of the jaws may comprise a channel for receiving a cartridge containing a plurality of surgical fasteners. Also, an electrically powered actuator may be for deploying the surgical fasteners and may comprise a power source and a motor. An activation mechanism may be attached to the handle to move the pair of jaws from the open to the closed position and to activate the actuator. A lockout mechanism may be configured to permit current to flow from the power source to the motor when the pair of jaws is in the closed position and to prevent current from flowing to the power source to the motor when the pair of jaws is in the open position.