Gas pressure monitor for pneumatic surgical machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9326826-B2
Application number	US-201414185641-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2014
Priority date	Oct 30, 2006
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

A gas pressure monitor system for a pneumatically-powered surgical machine includes a first transducer, a second transducer, and a controller. The first transducer is located upstream from a filter and is configured to read a first pressure of a gas before the gas enters the filter. The second transducer is located downstream from the Filter and is configured to read a second pressure of a gas after the gas exits the filter. The controller is configured to compute a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure. A state of the filter is determined from the difference between the first pressure and the second pressure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gas pressure monitor system for a pneumatically-powered surgical machine comprising:
a first transducer located upstream from a filter, the first transducer configured to read a first pressure of a gas before the gas enters the filter;
a second transducer located downstream from the filter, the second transducer configured to read a second pressure of a gas after the gas exits the filter;
a coupling configured to accept gas from a gas source;
an isolation valve located between the first transducer and the filter;
a pressure relief valve located between the coupling and the first transducer;
a first manifold fluidly connecting the first transducer to the isolation valve;
a second manifold fluidly connecting the isolation valve to the filter;
a third manifold fluidly connecting the filter to the second transducer; and
a fourth manifold fluidly connecting the coupling and the pressure relief valve to the first transducer.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein when the first pressure reading is greater than a first amount, the pressure release valve is open and the isolation valve is closed.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein an indication of a high pressure condition is provided.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein when the second pressure reading is less than a second amount, the isolation valve is closed.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein an indication of a low pressure condition is provided.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein when the first pressure and second pressure are within a safe pressure range, the isolation valve is open and the pressure release valve is closed.

7. A gas pressure monitor for a pneumatic module comprising:
a first transducer located upstream from a filter, the first transducer configured to read a first pressure of a gas before the gas enters the filter;
a second transducer located downstream from the filter, the second transducer configured to read a second pressure of a gas after the gas exits the filter;
a coupling configured to accept gas from a gas source;
an isolation valve located between the first transducer and the filter;
a pressure relief valve located between a coupling and the first transducer;
a first manifold fluidly connecting the first transducer to the isolation valve;
a second manifold fluidly connecting isolation valve to the filter;
a third manifold fluidly connecting the filter to the second transducer;
a fourth manifold fluidly connecting the coupling and the pressure relief valve to the first transducer; and
logic configured to compute a difference between the first pressure reading and the second pressure reading;
wherein when the difference between the first pressure reading and the second pressure reading is greater than a second amount, an indication that the filter needs service is provided, when the first pressure reading is greater than a first amount, the pressure release valve is opened and the isolation valve is closed, and when the second pressure reading is less than a third amount, the isolation valve is closed.

8. A method for monitoring the state of a filter in a pneumatic module of a surgical machine comprising:
sensing a first pressure of a gas upstream from a filter;
sensing a second pressure of a gas downstream from the filter;
computing a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure;
comparing the difference to a value to determine a state of the filter;
determining if an unacceptable pressure drop exists across the filter; and
keeping an isolation valve in a closed position if an unacceptable pressure drop exists across the filter.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
using the difference between the first pressure and the second pressure to determine if the filter needs service.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
providing an indication that the filter needs service.

11. A method for monitoring the state of a filter in a pneumatic module of a surgical machine comprising:
sensing a first pressure of a gas upstream from a filter;
sensing a second pressure of a gas downstream from the filter;
computing a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure;
comparing the difference to a value to determine a state of the filter;
determining if a pressure drop across the filter is acceptable; and
opening an isolation valve if the pressure drop across the filter is acceptable.

Assignees

• Novartis Ag

Inventors

• Turner Denis
• Palino Robert

Classifications

• A61F9/0133

  Knives or scalpels specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• A61B2017/00119

  alarm; indicating an abnormal situation · CPC title

• A61B2017/00544

  pneumatically · CPC title

• A61F9/00736 Primary

  Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments (A61F9/008 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2017/00123

  and automatic shutdown · CPC title