Force Sensitive Foot Controller

• US 20090005789A1
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Charles, Steven T.
• Application Number:
  US11/768,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20090005789A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/130
• 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 2017/00225 Systems for controlling multiple different instruments, e.g. microsurgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure

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 proportionally control a surgical parameter based upon the amount of force applied to a pressure plate of the foot controller.

Claims

1. A method of providing proportional control of surgical instruments 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 force sensor coupled to a pressure plate; and

at least one surgical parameter;

determining an amount of force applied to said pressure plate; and

proportionally controlling a value of at least one of said surgical parameters as a function of said force applied to said pressure plate.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of proportionally controlling said value of said surgical parameter comprises varying said value of said surgical parameter with said force applied to said pressure plate in a linear manner.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of proportionally controlling said value of said surgical parameter comprises varying said value of said surgical parameter with said force applied to said pressure plate in a non-linear manner.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said force sensor is a strain gauge.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said force sensor is a force sensing resistor.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said microsurgical system further comprises a shield coupled to said foot controller, said shield at least partially enclosing said pressure plate.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said microsurgical system comprises a surgical handpiece; and

said surgical parameter is associated with operation of said handpiece.

8. A microsurgical system comprising:

a computer;

a foot controller operatively coupled to said computer, said foot controller having a force sensor coupled to a pressure plate; and

at least one surgical parameter.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said force sensor is a strain gauge.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said force sensor is a force sensing resistor.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising a shield connected to said foot controller, said shield at least partially surrounding said pressure plate.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising a microsurgical handpiece, and wherein said surgical parameter is associated with operation of said handpiece.