Multi-functional surgical control system and switching interface

• US 20040172011A1
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. (Intuitive Surgical Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Incorporated (Intuitive Surgical Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Wang, Yulun, Jordan, Charles S., Uecker, Darrin R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,097,640 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 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00203 with speech control or speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00225 Systems for controlling multiple different instruments, e.g. microsurgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

An interface which allows a surgeon to operate multiple surgical devices from a single input device. The input device may be a foot pedal that provides output signals to actuate a number of different surgical devices. The surgical devices may include a robotic arm, a laser, an electrocautery device, or an operating table. The interface has an input channel that is coupled to the input device and a plurality of output channels that are coupled to the surgical devices. The interface also has a select input channel which can receive input commands to switch the input channel to one of the output channels. The select channel may be coupled to a speech interface that allows the surgeon to select one of the surgical devices with a voice command. The surgeon can operate any device by providing an input command which switches the input channel to the desired output channel.

Claims

1. An interface for coupling an input device to a first surgical apparatus and a second surgical apparatus, comprising:

an interface that has a first input channel coupled to the input device, a first output channel coupled to the first surgical apparatus and a second output channel coupled to the second surgical apparatus, said interface having a select channel that switches said first input channel between said first output channel and said second output channel.

2. The interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said interface includes a multiplexor.

3. The interface as recited in claim 1, further comprising a speech interface which receives commands from a surgeon and provides command signals to said select channel.

4. The interface as recited in claim 3, further comprising a central processing unit which is coupled to said speech interface and said select channel.

5. A surgical system, comprising:

a first surgical apparatus;

a second surgical apparatus;

an input device which provides a control signal to said first surgical apparatus or said second surgical apparatus; and

,

an interface that has a first input channel coupled to said input device, a first output channel coupled to said first surgical apparatus and a second output channel coupled to said second surgical apparatus, said interface having a select channel that switches said first input channel between said first output channel and said second output channel.

6. The surgical system as recited in claim 5, wherein said input device is a foot pedal.

7. The surgical system as recited in claim 6, wherein said foot pedal is coupled to said select channel of said interface.

8. The surgical system as recited in claim 5, wherein said input device is a speech interface.

9. The surgical system as recited in claim 8, further comprising a speech interface that is coupled to said select channel of said interface.

10. The surgical system as recited in claim 5, wherein said first surgical apparatus is an electrocautery device.

11. The surgical system as recited in claim 5, wherein said first surgical apparatus is a robotic arm.

12. The surgical system as recited in claim 5, wherein said first surgical apparatus is a laser.

13. The surgical system as recited in claim 5, wherein said first surgical apparatus is an operating table.

14. The surgical system as recited in claim 10, wherein said second surgical apparatus is a robotic arm.

15. The surgical system as recited in claim 14, wherein said input device is a foot pedal.

16. The surgical system as recited in claim 15, further comprising a speech interface that is coupled to said select channel of said interface.

17. The surgical system as recited in claim 16, further comprising an operating table that is coupled to a third output channel of said interface.

18. The surgical system as recited in claim 17, further comprising a laser that is coupled to a fourth output channel of said interface.

19. A method for operating a first surgical apparatus and a second surgical apparatus from a input device, comprising the steps of:

a) providing interface that has a first input channel coupled to the input device, a first output channel coupled to the first surgical apparatus and a second output channel coupled to the second surgical apparatus;

b) switching said interface so that said first input channel is coupled to said first output channel; and

,

c) switching said interface so that said first input channel is coupled to said second output channel.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said interface is switched with a command signal from a speech interface.