System for remotely controlling two or more medical devices

• US 20050251228A1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Hamel, Andrew J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,883,458 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00225 Systems for controlling multiple different instruments, e.g. microsurgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/701 for flexible tubular instruments, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/70 Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments

Abstract

A system for remotely controlling multiple medical devices. Included in the system are at least a first medical device and a second medical device, each of which are capable of performing one or more functions. Also included is a remote control unit having at least a first switch and a second switch. Connected to each of the medical devices is a controller that can simultaneously dispatch one or more device command signals to each of the medical devices in response to receiving one or more remote command signals from the remote control unit, thereby allowing a user to remotely and simultaneously control one or more functions associated with each of the medical devices.

Claims

1. A system for controlling multiple medical devices by remote control, comprising:

a first medical device for use in a surgical suite and capable of performing one or more functions;

a second medical device for use in a surgical suite and capable of performing one or more functions;

a remote control unit having at least a first switch and a second switch, which when either switch is activated, issues one or more remote command signals intended to control one or more of said functions associated with one or more of said first medical device and second medical device; and

a controller that connects to each of said first medical device and second medical device and which, in response to receiving one or more remote command signals from said remote control unit, simultaneously dispatches one or more appropriately formatted device command signals to each of said first medical device and second medical device so as to simultaneously control said one or more functions associated with each of said first medical device and second medical device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

said controller maps said first switch of said remote control unit onto one or more of said functions associated with said first medical device, thereby allowing a user to remotely control said one or more functions of said first medical device through manipulation of said first switch; and

wherein

said controller maps said second switch of said remote control unit onto one or more functions associated with said second medical device, thereby allowing the user to remotely control said one or more functions of said second medical device through manipulation of said second switch.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said one or more functions of said first medical device and said one or more functions of said second medical device can be simultaneously but independently controlled by said remote control unit.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein said controller is programmed to regulate operation of said one or more functions associated with said first medical device depending on an operating state of said second medical device.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller maps one of said first switch and second switch of said remote control unit onto said one or more functions associated with said first medical device, as well as onto said one or more functions associated with said second medical device, thereby allowing a user to remotely and simultaneously control said one or more functions of said first medical device and said one or more functions of said second medical device through manipulation of one of said first switch and second switch.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said controller is programmed to regulate operation of said one or more functions associated with said first medical device depending on an operating state of said second medical device.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first medical device and second medical device is in electrical communication with said controller through a direct wired connection.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first medical device and second medical device connects to a medical device communications network or BUS and is in electrical communication with said controller through said communications network or BUS.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said remote control unit is in wireless communication with said controller.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said remote control unit is configured to be operated by either a user'"'"'s foot or a user'"'"'s hand.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first switch and second switch of said remote control unit comprise one of a button, pedal, slider, rocker switch and rotary switch.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller automatically identifies said first medical device and said second medical device, and maps at least one of said first switch and second switch to at least one of said functions associated with one of said first medical device and second medical device based upon one or more predetermined rules.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller automatically identifies said first medical device and said second medical device, and maps at least one of said first switch and second switch to at least one of said functions associated with one of said first medical device and second medical device based upon one or more selections made by a user.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said controller prompts a user to select a specific function associated with one of said first medical device and second medical device which will subsequently be mapped to one of said first switch and second switch.

15. A system for remotely controlling a single medical device having multiple operating modalities, comprising:

a medical device having more than one operating modalities for use in a surgical suite, said medical device being configured to either individually or simultaneously perform at least a first function associated with a first operating modality and at least a second function associated with a second operating modality;

a remote control unit having at least a first switch and a second switch, which when at least one of said first switch and second switch is activated, issues one or more remote command signals intended to control at least one of said at least first function associated with said first operating modality and said at least second function associated with said second operating modality; and

a controller that connects to said medical device and which, in response to receiving one or more remote command signals from said remote control unit, dispatches one or more appropriately formatted device command signals to said medical device in order to control one or more of said at least first function associated with said first operating modality and at least second function associated with said second operating modality.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein:

said controller maps said first switch of said remote control unit onto one or more of said at least first function associated with said first operating modality, thereby allowing a user to remotely control said at least first function associated with said first operating modality of said medical device through manipulation of said first switch; and

wherein

said controller maps said second switch of said remote control unit onto one or more of said at least second function associated with said second operating modality, thereby allowing the user to remotely control said at least second function of said second operating modality of said medical device through manipulation of said second switch.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said at least first function of said first operating modality and said at least second function of said second operating modality of said medical device can be independently and simultaneously controlled by said remote control unit.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein said controller maps one of said first switch and second switch of said remote control unit onto said one or more of said at least first function associated with said first operating modality, as well as onto one or more of said at least second function associated with said second operating modality, thereby allowing a user to remotely and simultaneously control said at least first function of said first operating modality and said at least second function of said second operating modality through manipulation of one of said first switch and second switch.

19. A system for controlling multiple medical devices by remote control, comprising:

a first medical device having one or more switches and capable of performing one or more functions;

a second medical device having one or more switches and capable of performing one or more functions; and

a controller that connects to each of said first medical device and second medical device and which, in response to receiving one or more remote command signals from said one or more switches of said first medical device, dispatches one or more appropriately formatted device command signals to each of said first medical device and second medical device so as to control at least one of said one or more functions associated with said first medical device and at least one of said one or more functions associated with said second medical device.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said controller resides in one of said first medical device and second medical device.