Abstract:
A powered surgical tool includes a motor, a motor control module for controlling the actuation of the motor, and a trigger assembly for allowing the user to enter user-selected commands indicative of desired motor rotation. The trigger assembly includes a number of moving magnets located adjacent the sealed housing that contains the circuitry forming the motor control module. There are a set of magnetic field sensors in the motor control module housing. As the magnets are displaced in response to the user's actuation of the switches, the sensors generate signals representative of the user-selected motor commands. The motor control module further includes a motor control circuit and a direction controller circuit that allow the motor to be driven in either forward, reverse or oscillatory rotation. When the motor is driven the oscillatory rotation, the direction control circuit and the motor control circuit cooperate to ensure the periodic reversal of the motor does not generate significant mechanical vibrations.
Abstract:
A powered tool for performing surgical procedures. The tool includes a handpiece in which a power generating unit is housed. A control member is mounted to the handpiece. The control member is mounted to the handpiece so that the orientation of the control member can be selectively set relative to the point to which it is mounted to the handpiece and so it can move relative to a reference point on the handpiece. A control module monitors the orientation of the control member and its position relative to the reference point. Based on the control member orientation and position, the control module generates signals to regulate the operation of the power generating unit. When the power generating unit is a motor, the control module generates signals to ensure that the maximum speed at which the motor can be driven is less than the no load speed.
Abstract:
A solid medical waste collection system for collecting solid medical waste. The system includes a mobile cart with a bag for storing the waste. A pre-detection apparatus detects metal-containing objects prior to placing them inside the bag to reduce costs to the facility in which the cart is employed. The system may also include a bag-tensioning mechanism for securing the bag to the cart.
Abstract:
A motor controller for regulating the application of current to the windings of a motor in order to both control the actuation of the motor rotor and the braking of the rotor. The motor controller includes a speed control circuit regenerating a signal representative of the user-selected speed, a direction controller to signal if the motor is to be driven in the forward, reverse or oscillatory motion and a speed override circuit. There is also a current sensor for monitoring the current drawn by the motor, a brake controller and an energization circuit. The energization circuit regulates the application of a current to the motor to cause the rotation or braking of the rotor. When the motor is to be oscillated, each time the direction controller circuit transitions a FORWARD/REVERSE signal, the speed override circuit causes the energization circuit to momentarily apply energization signals to the motor based on the application of a zero-speed, user-speed signal. During such transitions, the current sensor sends a signal to the energization controller to make it appear that the motor is drawing in a large amount of current. Whenever the motor is operating at a speed higher than the user-speed, the brake controller causes the energization controller to apply braking current to the motor. However, if the rotor is not turning, the brake controller inhibits the assertion of the braking current.
Abstract:
A solid medical waste collection system for collecting solid medical waste. The system includes a mobile cart with a bag for storing the waste. A pre-detection apparatus detects metal-containing objects prior to placing them inside the bag to reduce costs to the facility in which the cart is employed. The system may also include a bag-tensioning mechanism for securing the bag to the cart.
Abstract:
A motor control chip (62) for asserting the control signals used to regulate the energization of the windings of a DC motor. The motor control chip includes a tachometer (94) that receives pulsed signals that vary with the rotation of the motor rotor and that produces a pulse width modulated tachometer signal as a function of the motor speed. A pulse width modulator (90) receives the tachometer signal and an analog signal representative of the user-selected motor speed. Based on the received input signals, the pulse width modulator produces a variable speed control signal. A forward/reverse oscillator (92) receives user-set signals indicating if the motor should be run in the forward or reverse directions or in an oscillatory pattern. Based on the received signals, the forward/reverse oscillator asserts a forward/reverse signal having an appropriate signal state or cycle. A motor decoder (98) receives the signals produced by the pulse width oscillator and the forward/reverse oscillator. The motor decoder then asserts the control signals that regulate when power switches selectively tie the motor windings to either a power source or ground.