Remote controlled thermal treatment system and method for controlling the system remotely to thermally treat sterile surgical liquid
First Claim
1. A thermal treatment system for thermally treating a sterile medium in a sterile surgery environment, said system comprising:
- a system housing including a top surface;
a basin disposed on said top surface for containing said sterile medium;
a thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium disposed in said basin; and
a controller selectively manipulable by a user to control system operation, wherein said controller is external of, detached from and selectively movable relative to said housing and controls operation of said thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium in accordance with said manipulation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal treatment system for thermally treating a sterile medium is controlled via a foot actuated switch to thermally treat the sterile medium to a desired temperature and/or form (e.g., slush). The thermal treatment system includes a basin recessed in a system top surface, while a surgical sterile drape is placed over the system and within the basin to form a drape container for containing the sterile medium. The basin may be configured to cool the sterile medium and form sterile surgical slush, or heat the sterile medium to provide warm sterile liquid. A dislodgment mechanism may be employed within a cooling basin to manipulate the drape and dislodge frozen pieces of sterile medium adhered to the drape. Information pertaining to the sterile medium and system operation may be displayed on a system display that has dimensions sufficient to provide visibility of the information to users located within extended ranges from the system. Alternatively, the thermal treatment system may be responsive to a remote control unit to enable users to control operation of the system remotely. The remote control unit may control various operating parameters and features of the system, and preferably emits system commands in the form of code signals. A receiver is employed by the thermal treatment system to receive the transmitted signals and facilitate system operation in response to those signals. In addition, the foot actuated switch and remote control unit may be utilized with thermal treatment systems having a plurality of heating and/or cooling basins.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A thermal treatment system for thermally treating a sterile medium in a sterile surgery environment, said system comprising:
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a system housing including a top surface;
a basin disposed on said top surface for containing said sterile medium;
a thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium disposed in said basin; and
a controller selectively manipulable by a user to control system operation, wherein said controller is external of, detached from and selectively movable relative to said housing and controls operation of said thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium in accordance with said manipulation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a thermal treatment system for thermally treating a sterile medium including a system housing having a top surface, a basin disposed on said top surface for containing said sterile medium and a thermal treatment unit to thermally treat the sterile medium disposed in said basin, a method of controlling said system to thermally treat said sterile medium comprising the step of:
(a) controlling said thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium in accordance with manipulation of a controller disposed external of and detached from said housing and selectively manipulable by a user to control system operation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A thermal treatment system for thermally treating a sterile medium comprising:
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a system housing including a top surface;
a basin disposed on said top surface for containing said sterile medium;
a thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium disposed in said basin; and
a foot actuated switch selectively manipulable by a user to transmit control signals to said system to control system operation in accordance with said manipulation.
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21. A thermal treatment system for thermally treating a sterile medium comprising:
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a system housing including a top surface;
a basin disposed on said top surface for containing said sterile medium;
a thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium disposed in said basin;
a remote control unit selectively manipulable by a user and having a transmitter to transmit control signals to said system in the form of energy waves in response to said manipulation; and
a control circuit to receive said energy waves and control system operation in accordance with said control signals.
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22. In a thermal treatment system for thermally treating a sterile medium including a system housing having a top surface, a basin disposed on said top surface for containing said sterile medium and a thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium disposed in said basin, a method of controlling said system to thermally treat said sterile medium comprising the step of:
(a) controlling said thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium in accordance with manipulation of a foot actuated switch selectively manipulable by a user to control system operation, wherein said foot actuated switch transmits control signals to said system to control system operation in accordance with said manipulation.
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23. In a thermal treatment system for thermally treating a sterile medium including a system housing having a top surface, a basin disposed on said top surface for containing said sterile medium and a thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium disposed in said basin, a method of controlling said system to thermally treat said sterile medium comprising the step of:
(a) controlling said thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium in accordance with manipulation of a remote control unit selectively manipulable by a user to control system operation, wherein said remote control unit transmits control signals to said system in the form of energy waves to control system operation in accordance with said manipulation.
Specification