REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL APPARATUS

• US 20080150754A1
• Filed: 12/05/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Carl Zeiss Surgical GmbH (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Carl Zeiss Surgical GmbH (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Quendt, Dieter
• Application Number:
  US11/950,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20080150754A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.07
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00034 rechargeable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00055 for alerting the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00212 using remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/74 Manipulators with manual electric input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/20 Surgical microscopes characterised by non-optical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

A cableless remote control system (2) for a medical device is provided. The remote control system (2) comprises a first battery (16), a second battery (18), a control module (10) for attaching or for installing in the medical device (8), at least one remote control operating unit (6) and a charging station (4). The first battery (16) is arranged in the remote control unit (6), the second battery is allocated to the charging unit (4).

Claims

1. A cableless remote control system (2) for a medical device (8) comprising:

a control module (10) for attaching or for installing in the medical device (8), the control module configured for receiving at least one control signal for controlling an operation of the medical device (8),

at least one remote control operating unit (6) configured for generating the at least one control signal,

at least one first battery (16) arranged in the remote control operating unit (6);

a charging station (4), and

at least one second battery (18) allocated to the charging station (4), wherein the at least one second battery (18) charges the at least one first battery (16).

2. The cableless remote control system (2) of claim 1, further comprising a radio network link connection between the remote control operating unit (6) and the medical device (8) to be controlled, the radio network link accommodating the at least one control signal.

3. The cableless remote control system (2) of claim 1, wherein the second battery (18) has a capacity that is greater than a capacity of the first battery (16).

4. The cableless remote control system (2) of claim 1, wherein the charging station (4) comprises a first coil (17) and the remote control operating unit (6) comprises a second coil (25), the first and second coils (17, 25) being matched to one another so that the first battery (16) can be charged via an inductive magnetic field.

5. The cableless remote control system (2) of claim 4, further comprising a first modulator/demodulator allocated to the first coil (17) for modulating and demodulating the inductive magnetic field of the first coil (17) and a second modulator/demodulator allocated to the second coil (25) for modulating and demodulating the inductive magnetic field of the second coil (25).

6. The cableless remote control system (2) of claim 1, wherein the second battery (18) is integrated into the charging station (4).

7. A medical device (8) comprising:

a remote control system (2) having a control module (10) for attaching or for installing in the medical device (8), the control module (10) configured for receiving at least one control signal for controlling an operation of the medical device (8),

at least one remote control operating unit (6) configured for generating the at least one control signal,

at least one first battery (16) arranged in the remote control operating unit (6);

a charging station (4), and

at least one second battery (18) allocated to the charging station (4), wherein the at least one second battery (18) charges the at least one first battery (16).

8. The medical device (8) of claim 7, wherein the control module (10) is installed in the medical device (8).

9. The medical device (8) of claim 7, wherein the charging station (4) is installed in the medical device (8).

10. The medical device (8) of claim 9, wherein the second battery (18) is installed in the medical device (8).

11. The medical device (8) of claim 7, wherein the charging unit (4) is attached detachably at the medical device (8).

12. A method for charging a battery (16) arranged in a remote control operating unit (6) of a remote control system for a medical device (8), the remote control system comprising at least one first battery (16), at least one second battery (18), a control module (10) for attaching or for installing in the medical device (8), and a charging station (4), the first battery (16) being arranged in the remote control operating unit (6) and the second battery (18) being allocated to the charging station (4), the method comprising charging the first battery (16) with energy provided by the second battery (18).

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising charging the second battery (18) while the remote control system is in operation.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting a control signal via a radio network link from the remote control to the device to be controlled.

15. The method of claim 14, in which the remote control operating unit (6) outputs a signal if it has no charging contact to the charging station (4) and the radio network link is interrupted over a particular period of time.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of charging the first battery (16) comprises charging the first battery (16) contactlessly by the second battery (18).

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of charging the first battery (16) comprises charging the first battery (16) inductively by the second battery (18).

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising registering the remote control operating unit (6) at the control module (10) by an inductive coupling of the charging station (4).

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising generating a signal at the remote control operating unit (6) for indicating a state of charge of the first battery (16).

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising generating a warning signal at the remote control operating unit (6) when the state of charge of the first battery (16) is too low.