SEMI-AUTOMATIC DEVICE CALIBRATION

• US 20110092962A1
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Medical Optics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Ma, Dung, Hajishah, Abraham, Gerg, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,635,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00725 Calibration or performance testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic

Abstract

A method and apparatus for calibrating a medical device operable in at least one axis of movement, such as a footpedal or footswitch, is provided. The design includes instructing a user to operate the device to a first predetermined position in a first axis of movement while concurrently monitoring movement of the device to establish a set of movement responses, prompting the user to indicate when the first predetermined position in the first axis is attained modifying the set of movement responses when movement response irregularities are detected, thereby establishing a modified set of movement responses, and employing the modified set of movement responses during a medical procedure.

Claims

1. A method of calibrating a device operable in at least one axis of movement, comprising:

instructing a user to operate the device to a first predetermined position in a first axis of movement while concurrently monitoring movement of the device to establish a set of movement responses;

prompting the user to indicate when the first predetermined position in the first axis is attained;

modifying the set of movement responses when movement response irregularities are detected, thereby establishing a modified set of movement responses; and

employing the modified set of movement responses with the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said modifying comprises enabling an entity to provide desired response characteristics in establishing the modified set of movement responses.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said modifying comprises automated processing based on predetermined rules.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user indicates when the first predetermined position has been attained by pressing a button.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising saving the calibration, wherein saving the calibration comprises saving the modified set of movement responses on a storage device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating switch performance for at least one switch associated with the device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a footpedal having two axes of movement.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a medical device operable in at least one axis of movement; and

a host device coupled with the medical device comprising;

a monitor configured to monitor movement of the medical device in the at least one axis of movement and establish a set of movement responses of the medical device; and

an application configured to receive the set of movement responses from the monitor and modify the set of movement responses when movement response irregularities are detected, thereby establishing a modified set of movement responses;

wherein the modified set of movement responses is configured to be employed with the medical device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the application interacts with a user through a user interface coupled with the instrument host to enable said user to provide desired response characteristics in establishing the modified set of movement responses.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the application computes the modified set of user responses based on predetermined rules.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the host device further comprises a graphical user interface configured to instruct a user to operate the medical device to at least one predetermined device position in the at least one axis of movement.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the host device provides a desired position and the graphical user interface enables the user to indicate when the desired position is attained.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the graphical user interface provides a button for the user to engage when the desired position has been attained.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the medical device comprises an electronic storage unit configured to save calibrations, wherein saving the calibration comprises saving the modified set of movement responses.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the medical device comprises a footswitch having two axes of movement.

16. A method of calibrating a medical device operable in at least one axis of movement, comprising:

instructing a user to operate the medical device beginning at a first point along at least one axis of movement;

prompting the user to indicate when the first point along the at least one axis of movement has been reached;

instructing the user to operate the medical device to a second point along the at least one axis of movement;

prompting the user to indicate when the second point along the at least one axis of movement has been reached;

monitoring movement of the medical device during said instructing and prompting, wherein said monitoring produces a set of movement responses;

selectively modifying the set of movement responses based on encountered movement response irregularities to a modified set of movement responses; and

employing the modified set of movement responses when employing the medical device during a medical procedure.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said selectively modifying comprises enabling an entity to provide desired response characteristics in establishing the modified set of movement responses.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said selectively modifying comprises automated processing of the set of movement responses based on predetermined rules.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the user indicates when the desired position has been attained by pressing a button.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising saving the calibration, wherein saving the calibration comprises saving the modified set of movement responses on a storage device.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising evaluating switch performance for at least one switch associated with the device.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the device comprises a footpedal having two axes of movement.

23. A method for calibrating a device operable in at least one axis of movement, comprising:

placing the device in a first predetermined position within a first axis;

confirming the first predetermined position upon reaching the position;

placing the device in a second pre-determined position within the first axis,

confirming the second predetermined position upon reaching the position;

monitoring movement from the first predetermined position to the second predetermined position to establish a set of movement responses;

detecting irregularities in the movement from the first predetermined position to the second predetermined position;

modifying the set of movement responses based on the detected irregularities; and

employing the modified set of movement responses with the device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

placing the device in a first predetermined position within a second axis;

confirming the first predetermined position within the second axis upon reaching the position;

placing the device in a second predetermined position within the second axis;

confirming the second predetermined position within the second axis upon reaching the position;

monitoring movement from the first predetermined position to the second predetermined position within the second axis to establish a second set of movement responses;

detecting irregularities in the movement from the first predetermined position to the second predetermined position within the second axis;

modifying the second set of movement responses based on the detected irregularities; and

employing the modified second set of movement responses with the device.