Apparatus for ensuring strain gauge accuracy in medical reusable device

Abstract

An apparatus for ensuring strain gauge accuracy including a handle assembly including a controller, an adapter assembly including a tubular housing having a proximal end portion configured to couple to the handle assembly and a distal end portion, a load sensing assembly configured to measure a load exerted on the tubular housing, and a signal processing circuit electrically coupled to the load sensing assembly, a memory coupled to the signal processing circuit, and a calibration assembly including a biasing member having a known spring rate stored as a force value in the memory, the calibration assembly configured to couple to the distal end portion of the adapter assembly. The signal processing circuit is configured to calibrate the adapter assembly with the calibration assembly attached thereto by calculating a correction factor based on a comparison a force of the spring member measured by the load sensing assembly to the force value.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for ensuring strain gauge accuracy comprising:
 a handle assembly including a controller;   a tubular housing having a proximal end portion configured to couple to the handle assembly and a distal end portion;   a load sensing assembly configured to measure a load exerted on the tubular housing;   a signal processing circuit electrically coupled to the load sensing assembly;   a memory coupled to the signal processing circuit; and   a calibration assembly configured to couple to the distal end portion of the tubular housing.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the memory stores a force measured by the load sensing assembly and a correction factor. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the handle assembly includes a display and the signal processing circuit is configured to display the correction factor on the display. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the calibration assembly includes a biasing member that is selectable from a plurality of biasing members and is selectively couplable to the calibration assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the correction factor is used to adjust a measurement by the load sensing assembly during use of the apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for ensuring strain gauge accuracy comprising:
 a handle assembly including a controller;   a tubular housing having a proximal end portion configured to couple to the handle assembly and a distal end portion;   a load sensing assembly configured to measure a load exerted on the tubular housing; and   a signal processing circuit electrically coupled to the load sensing assembly;   a memory coupled to the signal processing circuit and configured to store at least one strain value; and   a calibration assembly configured to couple to the distal end portion of the tubular housing, the calibration assembly including a hard stop, such that the tubular housing flexes under load while applying pressure on the hard stop.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the memory stores a correction factor. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the correction factor is used to correct the at least one strain value. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the handle assembly includes a display and the signal processing circuit is configured to display the correction factor on the display. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the correction factor is used to adjust a measurement by the load sensing assembly during use of the apparatus. 
     
     
         21 . A method for ensuring strain gauge accuracy, the method comprising:
 coupling a proximal end portion of a tubular housing to a handle assembly configured to determine accuracy of a strain gauge;   coupling a calibration assembly to a distal end portion of the tubular housing, the calibration assembly including a hard stop, such that the tubular housing flexes under load while applying pressure on the hard stop;   measuring, by a load sensing assembly disposed in the tubular housing, a load exerted on the tubular housing; and   storing at least one strain value to a memory of the handle assembly.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising storing a correction factor in the memory. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising correcting the at least one strain value based on the correction factor. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising displaying the correction factor on a display of the handle assembly. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising adjusting a measurement by the load sensing assembly during use of the handle assembly based on a correction factor. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising determining whether a difference between the stored value and the measured force is greater than a predetermined threshold value. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising determining whether the tubular housing is faulty based on the determination that the difference between the stored value and the measured force is greater than the predetermined threshold value. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , displaying on the display that an adapter assembly of an apparatus is faulty. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , displaying on the display the determined difference.