Surgical Instrument Motor Direction Switching Without IC Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor-driven surgical instruments face challenges in sterilization due to the presence of integrated circuits (ICs) made of semiconductor material, which are difficult, complicated, and expensive to sterilize.
Innovation Solution
A motor-driven surgical instrument with a control assembly that includes a plurality of switches, including a first switch with a moveable actuator, where the motor control circuit does not comprise an integrated circuit. The instrument features a drive member driven by the motor, which moves a slider to actuate the switch, allowing for control of the motor's direction of rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If integrated circuits (ICs) made of semiconductor material are used in the motor control circuit, then the control functionality and operational efficiency are improved, but the sterilization difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes integrated circuits (ICs) made of semiconductor material from the motor control circuit. Instead of using ICs, the invention employs discrete electronic components such as resistors, capacitors, and transistors that can be individually sterilized or replaced. This extraction of the problematic IC component resolves the contradiction by eliminating the sterilization difficulty while preserving the control functionality through alternative circuit design.
2Productivity
If integrated circuits (ICs) made of semiconductor material are used in the motor control circuit, then the control functionality is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes integrated circuits from the motor control circuit, replacing them with discrete components. This design choice reduces manufacturing cost because discrete components are generally less expensive to produce and replace than integrated circuits, while still achieving the required control functionality through proper circuit design and component selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adopts a design philosophy where the motor control circuit uses inexpensive discrete components that can be easily replaced if needed. This approach prioritizes cost-effectiveness over the longevity and integration density of ICs, allowing the instrument to be more economically manufactured and maintained while preserving essential operational efficiency.
3Ease of manufacture
If a slider mechanism with drive member shoulders is used to control the switch, then the sterilization ease is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control mechanism into distinct functional elements: a slider, drive member with shoulders, and switch actuator. This segmentation allows each component to be independently designed for sterilization compatibility while maintaining the overall control functionality. The mechanical segmentation replaces electronic ICs with separable parts that can withstand sterilization processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider acts as an intermediary mechanical element between the drive member and the switch actuator. The drive member shoulders engage with the slider to translate motor rotation into linear slider movement, which then actuates the switch. This intermediary mechanism provides a sterilization-friendly interface that converts rotational motor output into switch actuation without requiring complex electronic components.
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
The solution enables effective control of the surgical instrument's motor without the need for semiconductor-based ICs, facilitating easier sterilization and reducing costs while maintaining the instrument's operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an electric motor in the handle for powering the end effector
Implementation Method 2
The slider comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion interfaces the drive member such that the slider is moveable in a direction of movement of the drive member when either the first shoulder or the second shoulder of the drive member engages the first portion of the slider. The second portion of the slider actuates the moveable actuator of the first switch
Data Source
AI summary
A motor-driven surgical instrument that may comprise (i) a moveable drive member that is driven in a first direction when the electric motor operates in a first direction and that is driven in a second direction when the electric motor operates in a second direction. Movement of the drive member causes movement of the moveable component of the end effector, and (ii) a motor control circuit connected to the motor for controlling the motor. The motor control circuit may comprise a switching circuit that, upon actuation, reverses the direction of the motor from the first direction to the second direction. The switching circuit may be actuatable separately through each of: (i) actuation of a moveable actuator of the switching circuit through movement of the drive member at least in the first direction; and (ii) manual actuation by a user of the surgical instrument.