Systems and methods for controlling a segmented circuit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9804618-B2
Application number	US-201414226081-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2014
Priority date	Mar 26, 2014
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a surgical instrument. The method includes connecting a power assembly to a control circuit, wherein the power assembly is configured to provide a source voltage, energizing, by the power assembly, a voltage boost convertor circuit configured to provide a set voltage greater than the source voltage, and energizing, by the voltage boost convertor, one or more voltage converters configured to provide one or more operating voltages to one or more circuit components.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for controlling a surgical instrument, the method comprising:
connecting a power assembly to a control circuit, wherein the power assembly is configured to provide a source voltage;
energizing, by the power assembly, a voltage boost convertor configured to provide a set voltage greater than the source voltage, wherein a motor is coupled to the voltage boost convertor;
energizing, by the voltage boost convertor, a first regulator configured to receive the set voltage and provide a first operating voltage to a first subset of one or more circuit components, wherein a switch is coupled between the first regulator and the first subset of one or more circuit components, wherein a primary processor is coupled to the switch and the primary processor is configured to open the switch to deactivate the first subset of one or more circuit components to maximize power available for power intense functions requiring additional voltage delivered to the motor;
energizing, by the first regulator, a second regulator configured to provide a second operating voltage to a second subset of the one or more circuit components, wherein the voltage boost convertor, the first regulator, and the second regulator are coupled in a daisy chain configuration;
energizing, by the power assembly, an independent voltage regulator;
generating, by the independent voltage regulator, a constant voltage for a safety processor, wherein the safety processor is configured to provide a shutdown signal when it detects an unsafe condition; and
verifying, by the safety processor, a voltage provided by each of the voltage boost convertor, the first regulator, and the second regulator,
wherein the primary processor and the safety processor are configured to operate a surgical instrument.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing, by the power assembly, a voltage of about 12 volts, the set voltage comprises a voltage of about 13 volts, the first operating voltage comprises a voltage of about 5 volts, and the second operating voltage comprises a voltage of about 3.3 volts.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising energizing, by the voltage boost convertor, an organic light emitting diode.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the safety processor verifies the voltage provided by each of the voltage boost convertor, the first regulator and the second regulator by comparing the voltage to a predetermined threshold voltage.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the constant voltage generated by the independent voltage regulator is a voltage of about 3.3V.

6. A surgical instrument control circuit, comprising:
a power assembly configured to provide a source voltage;
a voltage boost convertor coupled to the power assembly, the voltage boost convertor configured to provide a set voltage greater than the source voltage;
a first voltage regulator coupled to and configured to be energized by the voltage boost convertor, wherein the first voltage regulator is configured to receive the set voltage and provide a first operational voltage, wherein the first operational voltage is less than the set voltage;
a second voltage regulator coupled to and configured to be energized by the first voltage regulator, wherein the second voltage regulator is configured to provide a second operational voltage, wherein the second operational voltage is less than the first operational voltage, and wherein the voltage boost convertor, the first voltage regulator, and the second voltage regulator are coupled in a daisy chain configuration;
a safety processor configured to provide a shutdown signal when it detects an unsafe condition, and configured to verify a voltage provided by each of the voltage boost convertor, the first voltage regulator, and the second voltage regulator;
an independent voltage regulator directly coupled to the power assembly and configured to generate a constant voltage for the safety processor;
a switch coupled between the first voltage regulator and a first plurality of circuit components;
a motor coupled to the voltage boost convertor; and
a primary processor coupled to the switch, wherein the primary processor is configured to open the switch to deactivate the first plurality of circuit components to maximize power available for power intense functions requiring additional voltage delivered to the motor, wherein the primary processor and the safety processor are configured to operate a surgical instrument.

7. The control circuit of claim 6 , wherein the power assembly is configured to provide a voltage of about 12 volts, the set voltage comprises a voltage of about 13volts, the first operating voltage comprises a voltage of about 5 volts, and the second operating voltage comprises a voltage of about 3.3 volts.

8. The control circuit of claim 6 , wherein the first voltage regulator is coupled to a first plurality of circuit components and the second voltage regulator is coupled to a second plurality of circuit components.

9. The control circuit of claim 6 , wherein the independent voltage regulator is configured to produce a voltage of about 3.3V.

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Leimbach Richard L
• Adams Shane R
• Overmyer Mark D
• Swensgard Brett E
• Lytle Iv Thomas W
• Shelton Iv Frederick E
• Houser Kevin L

Classifications

• A61B2017/00123

  and automatic shutdown · CPC title

• A61B2017/07285

  characterised by its cutter · CPC title

• B25F3/00

  Associations of tools for different working operations with one portable power-drive means; Adapters therefor · CPC title

• A61B2017/00398

  using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids · CPC title

• A61B2017/00221

  with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves · CPC title