Abstract: A method of medical treatment for transecting a ring trapped on an appendage of a patient is described. The method of medical treatment includes inserting a safety guard between the appendage and a portion of the ring, activating a blade motor to rotate a rotary blade aligned with the safety guard, sensing status readings, and transecting the portion of the ring including automatically directing a safety guard actuator to move the safety guard, based at least in part on the status readings, toward the rotary blade thereby urging the ring into contact with the rotary blade.