Pressure sensing in surgical console
View Patent ↗A method of determining the accuracy of a pressure sensor in a surgical console is disclosed. The method involves actuating a linear actuator so that its plunger is linearly displaced a pre-defined amount, and measuring the force exerted by the plunger on a non-compliant member. The accuracy of the linear actuator and the plunger are determined by comparing the force measured in the measuring step to a pre-defined force.
1. A method of determining the accuracy of a pressure sensor in a surgical console, comprising the steps of:
providing a substantially non-compliant member;
providing a surgical console with a cassette receiving area and a linear actuator having a plunger;
disposing said substantially non-compliant member in said cassette receiving area;
actuating said linear actuator so that said plunger exerts a force on said substantially non-compliant member;
measuring said force exerted by said plunger on said substantially non-compliant member; and
determining an accuracy of said linear actuator and said plunger by comparing said force measured in said measuring step to a pre-defined force.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing information to a user of said surgical console when said force measured in said measuring step is not within a pre-defined tolerance of said pre-defined force.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of preventing a surgical procedure when said force measured in said measuring step is not within a pre-defined tolerance of said pre-defined force.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein:
said surgical console comprises a load cell operatively coupled to said plunger; and
said measuring step comprises measuring said force exerted by said plunger on said substantially non-compliant member with said load cell.
5. A method of determining the accuracy of a pressure sensor in a surgical console, comprising the steps of:
providing a surgical cassette having a pressure sensor receiving area and a substantially non-compliant member disposed in said pressure sensor receiving area;
providing a surgical console with a cassette receiving area and linear stepper motor having a plunger;
disposing said cassette in said cassette receiving area;
actuating said linear stepper motor a pre-defined number of steps so that said plunger exerts a force on said substantially non-compliant member;
measuring said force exerted by said plunger on said substantially non-compliant member;
determining an accuracy of said linear stepper motor and said plunger by comparing said force measured in said measuring step to a pre-defined force.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of providing information to a user of said surgical console when said force measured in said measuring step is not within a pre-defined tolerance of said pre-defined force.
7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of preventing a surgical procedure when said force measured in said measuring step is not within a pre-defined tolerance of said pre-defined force.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein:
said surgical console comprises a load cell operatively coupled to said plunger; and
said measuring step comprises measuring said force exerted by said plunger on said substantially non-compliant member with said load cell.