SINGLE-USE ELECTRONIC APPARATUS HAVING A THERMAL SWITCH

• US 20120203224A1
• Filed: 02/08/2011
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gyrus Medical Incorporated (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gyrus Medical Incorporated (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: KRATOSKA, William F., BATCHELOR, Kester J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,652,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00184 Moving parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00708 switching the power on or off
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use

Abstract

An electronic apparatus includes a circuit portion that is configured to control an operation of the electronic apparatus and a heat-activated mechanical switch including, for example, a shape-memory material. The shape-memory material has a property such that the shape-memory material assumes a predetermined shape when the electronic apparatus is heated to a transition temperature. The shape-memory material disables the apparatus by acting on the circuit portion when the shape-memory material assumes the predetermined shape.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a circuit portion that is configured to control an operation of the electronic apparatus; and

a shape-memory material, the shape-memory material having a property such that the shape-memory material assumes a predetermined shape when the electronic apparatus is heated to a transition temperature,

wherein the shape-memory material disables the apparatus by acting on the circuit portion when the shape-memory material assumes the predetermined shape.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shape-memory material is configured such that, upon assuming the predetermined shape, the shape-memory material opens a circuit in the circuit portion to disable the apparatus.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shape-memory material is configured such that, upon assuming the predetermined shape, the shape-memory material completes a circuit in the circuit portion to disable the apparatus.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the shape-memory material is nitinol.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the apparatus is an electronic surgical apparatus, and the transition temperature is below a sterilization temperature of the electronic surgical apparatus.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a movable blocking element that is disposed adjacent to the shape-memory material and extends out of the electronic apparatus, wherein

the movable blocking element is configured to block the shape-memory material from assuming the predetermined shape prior to moving the movable blocking element from a blocking position.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the movable blocking element is attached to a packaging of the electronic apparatus such that the movable blocking element is moved from the blocking position upon removing the electronic apparatus from the packaging.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the movable blocking element includes an elongated portion that inhibits use of the electronic apparatus if the movable blocking element is not removed from the electronic apparatus prior to use.

9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is an electronic surgical apparatus further comprising a shaft portion, wherein

the elongated portion of the movable blocking element includes a ring like portion that is disposed at least partially around the shaft portion.

10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is an electronic surgical apparatus further comprising an operation button, and the elongated portion of the movable blocking element includes a flange portion that is configured to inhibit operation of the operation button prior to removal of the movable blocking element from the electronic apparatus.

11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

at least a portion of the movable blocking element is flexible, and

a removal path of the movable blocking element is non-linear, thereby inhibiting reinsertion of the movable blocking element after removal.

12. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

at least one movable portion that moves to a blocked position to block return of the movable blocking element to the blocking position after the movable blocking element has been removed from the blocking position.

13. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

at least one portion of the movable blocking element is a pin that is removed from the apparatus when the movable blocking element is moved out of the blocking position.

14. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the apparatus is an electronic surgical apparatus that applies energy to tissue, and the circuit portion includes an energy-controlling circuit of the apparatus.

15. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the apparatus is an electronic surgical apparatus that cuts tissue, and the circuit portion includes a cutting-controlling circuit of the electronic surgical apparatus.

16. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a circuit portion that is configured to control an operation of the electronic apparatus; and

a heat-activated electrical switch included in the circuit portion and moving to a predetermined position when the electronic apparatus is heated above a predetermined temperature to disable the apparatus.

17. The electronic apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

the heat-activated electrical switch includes a shape-memory material that moves to the predetermined position when heated to the predetermined temperature.

18. The electronic apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

the apparatus is an electronic surgical apparatus, and the predetermined temperature is below a sterilization temperature of the electronic surgical apparatus.

19. The electronic apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a movable blocking element that is disposed adjacent to the heat-activated electrical switch and extends out of the electronic apparatus, wherein

the movable blocking element is configured to block the heat-activated electrical switch from moving to the predetermined position prior to moving the movable blocking element out of a blocking position.

20. A single-use electronic surgical apparatus comprising:

a circuit portion that is configured to control an operation of the electronic surgical apparatus;

a shape-memory material, the shape-memory material having a property such that the shape-memory material assumes a predetermined shape when the electronic surgical apparatus is heated to a transition temperature; and

a signal transmitting portion,

wherein the shape-memory material disables the apparatus by acting on the circuit portion when the shape-memory material assumes the predetermined shape, and

the signal transmitting portion sends a signal to a display unit to indicate that the single-use electronic surgical apparatus is disabled due to being reprocessed when the shape-memory material assumes the predetermined shape.