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.

Abstract: A ring cutter for transecting a ring trapped on an appendage. The ring cutter includes a body, a motor housed in the body, a blade drivingly connected to the motor, a guard coupled to the body, a guard actuator drivingly connected to the guard and controlling a movement of the guard, a current sensor positioned to sense electrical current associated with the motor, and a processor communicatively coupled to the current sensor and the guard actuator. The blade has a rotation axis and a peripheral cutting edge. The guard is insertable between the ring and the appendage to position the ring between the guard and the blade. The processor is configured to: i) receive, from the current sensor, an electrical current reading associated with the motor, and ii) transmit, to the guard actuator, one or more commands to control the movement of the guard based on the electrical current reading.