Wireless hand-control of a device by means of a wirelss button

• US 20090085718A1
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Hilldoerfer, Michael G., Cover, Reid S., Hamel, Andrew J., Wells, Brannon P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,638,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.500
• 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 2017/00212 using remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00225 Systems for controlling multiple different instruments, e.g. microsurgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems

Abstract

A system for providing wireless remote control over one or more devices. Included in the system is at least one wireless button that can be placed at various locations and which communicates with at least one sensor when the wireless button and sensor are brought within close proximity to one another. According to one embodiment, a wireless button can only be activated when the button is located within an authorized activation area. In another embodiment, a wireless button can only be activated by an authorized user. In yet a further embodiment, a wireless button can only be activated by an authorized user when the button is located within an authorized activation area.

Claims

1. A system for remotely controlling a device, comprising:

at least one wireless button that can be configured to control one or more functions of a remote device;

at least one sensor for wirelessly detecting activation of said at least one wireless button; and

a central control unit for issuing control signals to one or more devices in communication with the central control unit in response to receiving a signal from said at least one sensor indicating a state of said at least one wireless button.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said one or more devices can only be remotely controlled by an authorized user.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said one or more devices can only be remotely controlled when said at least one wireless button is located within an authorized activation area.

4. A system for remotely controlling one or more surgical devices in a medical or surgical environment, comprising:

at least one surgical device;

a central control unit connected to said at least one surgical device;

at least one wireless button for controlling one or more functions of said at least one surgical device; and

at least one portable sensor unit secured to an authorized user for wirelessly detecting activation of said at least one wireless button and providing an output to said central control unit,

wherein said central control unit receives the output from said at least one portable sensor unit and controls said at least one surgical device in response to the output, and wherein operation of said surgical device is avoided when an unauthorized user operates said wireless button.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said at least one wireless button comprises a disposable button for use in a sterile field within an operating room.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein said at least one portable sensor unit comprises an RFID reader and said wireless button comprises an RFID tag, and wherein in response to a wireless signal from said RFID reader to said RFID tag, said RFID tag located in proximity to said RFID reader provides a return signal that identifies the status of the button.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein said at least one portable sensor unit is secured to a wrist of an authorized user, said portable sensor unit further comprising one of a finger cover and a sticker for securing an inductive coil to a finger of an authorized user, and comprising a wired connector connecting said inductive coil to said portable sensor unit.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said finger cover and said sticker are disposable devices for use in a sterile field of an operating room.

9. The system of claim 4, comprising a sensor disposed at a location within an operating room to define an authorized area for wireless communication with said push button, wherein actuation of said push button provides a control signal read by said sensor when the push button is disposed within the authorized area, wherein said sensor provides the control signal to said central control unit so that said central control unit controls said at least one surgical device in response to the output from said sensor unit and the control signal from said sensor.

10. The system of claim 4, comprising a sensor disposed at a location within an operating room to define an authorized area for wireless communication with said push button, wherein actuation of said push button provides a control signal read by said sensor when the push button is disposed within the authorized area, wherein said sensor provides the control signal to said sensor unit so that said sensor unit provides the output to said central control unit only when the output is received from said button and the control signal is received from said sensor.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein said at least one button comprises a first button of a plurality of wireless buttons, and said at least one surgical device comprises one of a plurality of surgical devices, wherein at least a second one of said buttons controls a second one of said surgical devices.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising at least one medical device connected to said central control unit and controllable by a third one of said plurality of wireless buttons.

13. A system for remotely controlling or more devices in a medical or surgical environment, comprising:

at least one surgical device;

a central control unit connected to said at least one surgical device;

at least one wireless button for controlling one or more functions of said at least one surgical device; and

a sensor unit disposed at a location to define an activation area, said sensor unit for wirelessly detecting activation of said at least one wireless button and for providing an output to said central control unit,

wherein said central control unit receives the output from said sensor unit when the wireless button is activated within the activation area and controls said at least one surgical device in response to the output from said at least one sensor, and

wherein said sensor unit provides no output to said central control unit if the wireless button is activated away from the activation area.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said sensor unit includes an inductive coil with a RFID reader and said wireless button comprises an RFID tag that normally is in an inoperative state.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein said sensor unit is disposed in an operating room ceiling to define an area of activation in an operating room.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein said sensor unit comprises a pad or sheet for placement on a table or surface near an area of interaction between the wireless button and a user.

17. The system according to claim 13, further comprising a portable sensor secured to the body of a user, the portable sensor defining an authorized user for wireless communication with said push button, wherein actuation of said push button provides a control signal read by said portable sensor when the portable sensor is disposed within the authorized area, wherein said portable sensor outputs the control signal to said central control unit so that said central control unit controls said at least one surgical device in response to the control signal from said portable sensor and the output from said sensor unit.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising a portable sensor mounted to the body of a user to define an authorized user for wireless communication with said push button, wherein actuation of said push button provides a control signal read by said portable sensor, wherein said portable sensor outputs the control signal to said sensor unit, wherein said sensor unit provides the output to said central control unit only when the output is received from said wireless button and the control signal is received from said portable sensor.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein said at least one button comprises a first button of a plurality of wireless buttons, and said at least one surgical device comprises one of a plurality of surgical devices, wherein at least a second one of said buttons controls a second one of said surgical devices.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising at least one medical device connected to said central control unit and controllable by a third one of said plurality of wireless buttons.