# US 12,004,824 B2 · Architecture for modular energy system

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- Number: US 12,004,824 B2
- Document ID: US12004824B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/217,449
- Filed: 2021-03-30
- Published: 2022-10-06
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-03-30
- Assignees: Cilag GmbH International
- Applicants: Cilag GmbH International
- Inventors: Daniel C. Herman; Joshua P. Morgan; Andrew W. Carroll; Jonathan T. Samuel; Joshua M. Henderson; James M. Vachon; Jeffrey L. Aldridge; Eitan T. Wiener
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004824B2

## CPC

- A61B 18/1206: {Generators therefor}
- A61B 34/25: {User interfaces for surgical systems}
- G06F 11/1423: {by reconfiguration of paths}
- G16H 20/40: relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
- G16H 40/67: for remote operation
- H04L 43/028: by filtering
- H04L 49/15: Interconnection of switching modules
- H04L 49/25: Routing or path finding in a switch fabric
- A61B 2560/0443: Modular apparatus
- G06F 11/0736: {in functional embedded systems, i.e. in a data processing system designed as a combination of hardware and software dedicated to performing a certain function (testing or monitoring of automated control systems G05B23/02)}
- G06F 11/0757: {by exceeding a time limit, i.e. time-out, e.g. watchdogs}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A modular energy system for use in a surgical environment includes a plurality of functional modules including at least an initial module, a functional module, and a terminal module. Each of the plurality of modules has a module control circuit, and a local data bus. An internal data bus is composed of a serial array of the local data busses of the modules. The local data bus may includes a communication switch, a first switch data path between the communication switch and the module control circuit, a second switch data path in communication with the communication switch, and a third switch data path in communication with the communication switch. The third switch data path of a module N is in communication with a second switch data path of a module N+1. The system further includes a termination unit in communication with the third data path of the terminal module.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A modular energy system for use in a surgical environment, the system comprising:
a plurality of modules, wherein each of the plurality of modules comprises one of an initial module, a terminal module, and a functional module,
wherein each of the functional modules and the terminal module comprises:
a module control circuit; and
a local data bus comprising:
a communication switch;
a first switch data path configured to permit data communication between the communication switch and the module control circuit;
a second switch data path in data communication with the communication switch; and
a third switch data path in data communication with the communication switch; and
wherein the initial module comprises a physical layer transceiver (PHY) in data communication with an initial module control circuit;
a termination unit in data communication with the third data path of the terminal module; and
an internal data bus comprising a serial array of the local data busses of the plurality of functional modules and the terminal module,
wherein a third switch data path of a functional module N is in data communication with a second switch data path of a functional module N+1,
wherein a second switch data path of the terminal module is in data communication with a third switch data path of a preceding functional module, and
wherein the internal data bus further comprises the physical layer transceiver (PHY) of the initial module in data communication with a second switch data path of a succeeding functional module.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The modular energy system of claim 1, further comprising a routing system, wherein the routing system is in data communication with the internal data bus, and is configured to permit data communication between the internal data bus and a device or system separate from the modular energy system.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The modular energy system of claim 2, wherein one of the plurality of modules comprises the routing system.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The modular energy system of claim 3, wherein the one of the plurality of modules comprising the routing system, further comprises a header module or a communication module.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The modular energy system of claim 3, wherein the routing system is detachably connected to the one of the plurality of modules.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The modular energy system of claim 5, wherein the one of the plurality of modules comprising the detachably connected routing system is configured to detect a presence of the detachably connected routing system.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The modular energy system of claim 2, wherein the routing system comprises a routing system processor and a routing system memory unit, wherein the routing system memory unit is configured to store instructions that, when executed by the routing system processor, cause the processor to execute one or more communication security protocols.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The module energy system of claim 7, wherein the one or more communication security protocols comprise one or more of:
a MAC address table filter;
a packet filter based on an IP address, a software protocol, or a port number;
a stateful communication packet inspection; and
an application layer firewall.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The modular energy system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modules comprises at least three modules.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The modular energy system of claim 9, wherein, for a module N, a data communication between a module N+1 and a module N−1 is routed around the communication switch of the module N when the communication switch of module N is non-functioning.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The modular energy system of claim 10, wherein the local data bus of each of the plurality of modules further comprises:
a multiplexer comprising:
a first multiplex data path;
a second multiplex data path;
a third multiplex data path; and
a data path selection line; and
wherein a fourth switch data path for a functional module or a terminal module is configured to permit data communication between the communication switch and the first multiplex data path of the multiplexer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The modular energy system of claim 11, wherein the third multiplex data path of the module N+1 is in data communication with the second multiplex data path of the module N−1.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The modular energy system of claim 12, wherein the module N+1 is configured to form a communication exchange with the module N−1 via the fourth switch data path of the communication switch of the module N+1, the third multiplex data path of the data multiplexer of the module N+1, the second multiplex data path of the data multiplexer of the module N−1, and the fourth switch data path of the communication switch of the module N−1, when the communication switch of the module N is non-functional.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The modular energy system of claim 1, wherein the internal data bus further comprises:
a plurality of address lines;
an address fault line in electrical communication with a voltage source; and
an analog/digital converter (ADC) configured to convert a value of an analog voltage of the address fault line into a digital value, and
wherein each module N of the plurality of functional modules further comprises:
a local address generator circuit;
a local address parity circuit; and
a predictive address parity circuit for a functional module N+1.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The modular energy system of claim 14, wherein the termination unit comprises a local address parity circuit.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The modular energy system of claim 14, wherein each module N of the plurality of functional modules comprises a parity comparison circuit configured to compare a predictive address parity value for a module N+1 and a local address parity value of a module N+1.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The modular energy system of claim 16, wherein, for each module N of the plurality of modules, the module N causes the value of the analog voltage of the address fault line to change when the predictive address parity value for module N+1 does not equal the local address parity value of module N+1.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The modular energy system of claim 17, wherein the change in value of the analog voltage is indicative of an address fault in module N+1.

### Claim 19

A system for notifying a user of a processor boot-up fault in a computerized device, wherein the computerized device comprises a processor and a memory unit configured to store a plurality of instructions for execution by the processor, the system comprising:
a timing circuit; and
a notification device,
wherein the processor is configured to initiate a boot-up process based on at least some of the instructions stored in the memory unit when power is applied to the computerized device,
wherein the timing circuit is configured to initiate a timing procedure when power is applied to the computerized device, and
wherein the timing circuit is configured to transmit a fault signal to the notification device when the timing circuit attains a predetermined value.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the timing circuit comprises a first timing circuit comprising:
a digital counter configured to receive a timing signal; and
a memory device configured to store the predetermined value,
wherein the timing signal is initiated when power is applied to the computerized device.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the time circuit comprises a second timing circuit comprising:
an RC circuit;
a comparator; and
a circuit configured to generate a voltage threshold,
wherein a timing voltage is applied to the RC circuit when power is applied to the computerized device, and
wherein the voltage threshold comprises the predetermined value.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the processor, on completion of the boot-up process, is configured to transmit an over-ride signal to the timing circuit when the boot-up process completes, and
wherein the timing circuit is configured to cease the timing procedure upon receipt of the over-ride signal from the processor.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the notification device comprises a multicolor visualization device.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The system of claim 23, wherein the processor, on completion of the boot-up process, further is configured to transmit a configuration signal to the multicolor visualization device.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The system of claim 23, wherein the multicolor visualization device comprises a three-color LED.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25, wherein the three-color LED is configured to display a red color on receipt of the fault signal from the timing circuit.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25, wherein the three-color LED is configured to display a dim white color when the computerized device is in a standby mode, and a bright white color when the computerized device is in a run-time mode.