STERILE DISPOSABLE REMOTE PNEUMATIC ACTUATORS
First Claim
1. A remote actuator for a medical device that comprises a pneumatic switch, a medical tube and a treatment member, the remote actuator comprising:
- a bellows having a pneumatic port and a coupling member for coupling the remote actuator to the medical tube and/or treatment member; and
an actuating conduit pneumatically coupled at a first end to the pneumatic port and configured to pneumatically couple at a second end to the pneumatic switch on the medical device, such that application of pressure to the bellows generates sufficient air pressure to actuate the pneumatic switch.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The various embodiments of the present invention relate to remote pneumatic (bellows-action) actuators for switching applications, which are preferably sterile and/or disposable. When compressed, the bellows-action actuator provides a pulse of air pressure sufficient to actuate a remotely-located pneumatic switch configured to turn on/off an electrical, mechanical or optical device. The pulse of air pressure is propagated along a non-conducting tube, thereby substantially reducing the risk of e.g., electric shock or O2 ignition/combustion associated with conventional electric switches in wet, hazardous or medical environments.
13 Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A remote actuator for a medical device that comprises a pneumatic switch, a medical tube and a treatment member, the remote actuator comprising:
-
a bellows having a pneumatic port and a coupling member for coupling the remote actuator to the medical tube and/or treatment member; and an actuating conduit pneumatically coupled at a first end to the pneumatic port and configured to pneumatically couple at a second end to the pneumatic switch on the medical device, such that application of pressure to the bellows generates sufficient air pressure to actuate the pneumatic switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A remote actuator for a medical device that comprises a pneumatic switch, a medical tube and a treatment member, the remote actuator comprising:
-
a bellows comprising a pneumatic port and first and second fluid ports and an internal conduit therebetween, wherein the fluid ports and internal conduit are configured to allow fluid coupling of the medical tube and the treatment member; and an actuating tube pneumatically coupled to the pneumatic port of the bellows and configured to allow pneumatic coupling to the pneumatic switch on the medical device, such that application of pressure to the bellows generates sufficient air pressure to actuate the pneumatic switch. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A remote actuator for a surgical laser that comprises a pneumatic switch, a medical tube having an optical fiber laser therein, and a laser treatment cannula, the remote actuator comprising:
-
a bellows comprising a pneumatic port and first and second laser ports and an internal conduit therebetween, wherein the laser ports and internal conduit are configured to allow the optical fiber laser to traverse the bellows and emerge from the laser treatment cannula; and an actuating tube pneumatically coupled to the pneumatic port of the bellows and configured to allow pneumatic coupling to the pneumatic switch on the surgical laser, such that application of pressure to the bellows generates sufficient air pressure to actuate the pneumatic switch. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
-
19. A multiple remote actuator for control of at least two surgical devices, each comprising a pneumatic switch and a medical tube, the multiple remote actuator comprising:
-
at least first and second bellows coupled together in series, each comprising a pneumatic port, wherein the coupled bellows further comprise at least first and second fluid ports and an internal conduit therebetween; and at least two actuating tubes pneumatically coupled to the pneumatic ports of each bellows, each actuating tube being configured to allow pneumatic coupling to the pneumatic switch on one of the surgical devices, such that application of pressure to a bellows generates sufficient air pressure to actuate the respective pneumatic switch. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A remote actuator for a medical device that comprises a pneumatic switch, a medical tube and a treatment member, the remote actuator comprising:
-
a bellows comprising a lumen and a port that is pneumatically coupled to the lumen, wherein the bellows is configured such that walls of the bellows form a channel, which is pneumatically sealed from the lumen; and an actuating tube pneumatically coupled to the port at a first end and configured to pneumatically couple at a second end to the pneumatic switch on the medical device, such that application of pressure to the bellows generates sufficient air pressure to actuate the pneumatic switch. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A system, comprising:
-
a medical device that comprises a pneumatic switch, a medical tube and a treatment member; and a remote actuator that comprises a bellows having an internal conduit therein, wherein the internal conduit comprises first and second lumens, wherein the first lumen is fluidly coupled to the medical tube and the treatment member, and wherein the second lumen comprises a port within the bellows, and is pneumatically coupled to an actuating tube which is pneumatically coupled to the pneumatic switch on the medical device, such that application of pressure to the bellows generates sufficient air pressure to actuate the pneumatic switch. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
Specification