Patent ID: 8162000
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: A61B,A61F,F15B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A pneumatic system for a surgical machine comprising: a reservoir for holding pressurized gas; a first proportional valve located on an input side of the reservoir, the first proportional valve configured to allow a first variable amount of pressurized gas to enter the reservoir; an input pressure transducer located on an input side of the first proportional valve, the input pressure transducer configured to measure a pressure of the pressurized gas entering the first proportional valve; a second proportional valve located on an output side of the reservoir, the second proportional valve configured to allow a second variable amount of pressurized gas to exit the reservoir; an output pressure transducer located on the output side of the reservoir, the output pressure transducer configured to measure a pressure of the gas exiting the reservoir; and a controller configured to control operation of the first and second proportional valves; wherein the controller is configured to receive a first signal from the input pressure transducer corresponding to the pressure of the pressurized gas entering the first proportional valve and a second signal from the output pressure transducer corresponding to the pressure of the pressurized gas exiting the reservoir, and wherein the controller is configured to use the first and second signals to adjust the first and second proportional valves to maintain a gas pressure in the reservoir within a range of gas pressures.