Surgical Tool Speed Control via Sensor Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical tools with magnet and Hall Effect sensors are prone to degradation during sterilization, leading to inconsistent speed measurements and potential malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A tool with a plurality of sensors adjacent to a magnet, where the controller determines base digital integers from sensor output signals and concatenates them to vary the operating parameter, mitigating the effects of component degradation and ensuring consistent operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a magnet and Hall Effect sensor are used to measure trigger member displacement, then the tool speed can be controlled, but the components may degrade during autoclave sterilization causing measurement variations and incorrect speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement function into multiple independent sensors (at least two sensors positioned at different locations) rather than relying on a single sensor. This segmentation ensures that if one sensor degrades during sterilization, the other sensors can still provide measurement data, maintaining overall system reliability for tool speed control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors trigger member displacement through multiple sensors and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust tool speed. By processing signals from multiple sensors and comparing their readings, the system can detect and compensate for sensor degradation, ensuring accurate speed control even after autoclave sterilization.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to detect the magnet, then measurement accuracy improves despite component degradation, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement function is segmented across multiple sensors positioned at different locations relative to the magnet and trigger member. Each sensor provides independent measurement data, and the combined information from these segmented measurements achieves higher overall precision while using simple, standard sensor components rather than a single complex sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple sensors serve dual purposes: they provide redundant measurement capability to maintain accuracy after sterilization, and they collectively enable more precise displacement measurement through signal comparison. This multi-functionality approach achieves enhanced measurement precision without requiring specialized complex sensors.
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 reduces the likelihood of tool malfunction by adapting to potential component degradation during sterilization, ensuring consistent performance and reliability of surgical tools.
Implementation Method 1
Prior art methods for controlling the speed of the tool utilize a magnet and one or more Hall Effect sensors to measure a displacement of the trigger member
Data Source
AI summary
A tool and method for operating the tool are provided. The tool includes a housing and a power generator, such as a motor, disposed in the housing. The power generator has an operating parameter, such as rotational speed. A trigger member and associated magnet are displaceable relative to the housing. A plurality of sensors each generate an output signal based on movement of the magnet. A controller receives the output signals from the sensors, determines a base digital integer from each of the output signals, concatenates the base digital integers to form a concatenated digital integer. The controller varies the operating parameter based on the concatenated digital integer.