Simultaneous proportional control of surgical parameters in a microsurgical system

• US 20030073980A1
• Filed: 09/04/2002
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Huculak, John C., Finlay, Russell L., Essex, Paul, Todd, Kirk W., Jung, Christopher C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,470,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery

Abstract

A microsurgical system, and a foot controller for the improved operation of a microsurgical system, are disclosed. A surgeon may use the foot controller to simultaneously control multiple surgical parameters based upon movement of a foot pedal of the foot controller in a single plane of motion.

Claims

1. A method of providing simultaneous proportional control of multiple surgical parameters in a microsurgical system, comprising the steps of:

providing a microsurgical system, said system comprising;

a computer;

a foot controller operatively coupled to said computer, said foot controller having a foot pedal capable of movement in a single plane of motion between a first end point and a second end point;

a first surgical parameter; and

a second surgical parameter;

determining a position of said foot pedal between said first end point and said second end point;

proportionally controlling a value of said first surgical parameter as a function of said position of said foot pedal; and

proportionally controlling a value of said second surgical parameter as a function of said position of said foot pedal simultaneous with said step of proportionally controlling said value of said first surgical parameter.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein foot pedal has a generally vertical range of motion, said first end point is a fully undepressed position of said foot pedal, and said second end point is a fully depressed position of said foot pedal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of proportionally controlling said value of said first surgical parameter comprises varying said value of said first surgical parameter with said position of said foot pedal in a linear manner.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of proportionally controlling said value of said second surgical parameter comprises varying said value of said second surgical parameter with said position of said foot pedal in a linear manner.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of proportionally controlling said value of said second surgical parameter comprises varying said value of said second surgical parameter with said position of said foot pedal in a non-linear manner.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of proportionally controlling said value of said first surgical parameter comprises varying said value of said first surgical parameter with said position of said foot pedal in a non-linear manner.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of proportionally controlling said value of said second surgical parameter comprises varying said value of said second surgical parameter with said position of said foot pedal in a non-linear manner.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said microsurgical system comprises a surgical handpiece; and

said first surgical parameter and said second surgical parameter are associated with operation of said handpiece.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein:

said microsurgical system is an ophthalmic microsurgical system;

said handpiece is a vitrectomy probe;

said first surgical parameter is a cut rate of said vitrectomy probe; and

said second surgical parameter is aspiration vacuum level of said vitrectomy probe.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein:

said microsurgical system is an ophthalmic microsurgical system;

said handpiece is an ultrasonic handpiece;

said first surgical parameter is ultrasound power of said ultrasonic handpiece; and

said second surgical parameter is aspiration flow rate of said ultrasonic handpiece.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said microsurgical system comprises a third surgical parameter, and further comprising the step of proportionally controlling a value of said third surgical parameter as a function of said position of said foot pedal simultaneous with said steps of proportionally controlling said value of said first surgical parameter and said second surgical parameter.