REMOTE CONTROL SWITCH FOR A LASER SYSTEM

• US 20150342677A1
• Filed: 04/30/2015
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectranetics Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Spectranetics Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Chalfant, Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 9,999,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

A laser system for use in an environment is disclosed. The laser system may include a base unit including a laser, a controller operatively coupled to the laser, and a first antenna operatively coupled to the controller. The laser system may further include a laser energy delivery system having a first end which receives laser energy from the laser and a second end which delivers the laser energy to the environment. The laser system may further include a switch unit located remote from the base unit and including a switch controller, a second antenna operatively coupled to the switch controller, and a user operable switch. The switch unit may be connected to the base unit through a tether. The controller may determine when the laser energy is provided to the laser energy delivery system based on a signal from the switch unit, the signal being sent wirelessly to the controller from the second antenna of the switch unit to the first antenna of the base unit.

Claims

1. A laser system for use in an environment, comprising:

a base unit including a laser, a controller operatively coupled to the laser, and a first antenna operatively coupled to the controller;

a laser energy delivery system having a first end which receives laser energy from the laser and a second end which delivers the laser energy to the environment; and

a switch unit located remote from the base unit and including a switch controller, a second antenna operatively coupled to the switch controller, and a user operable switch, the switch unit being connected to the base unit through a tether, wherein the controller determines when the laser energy is provided to the laser energy delivery system based on a signal from the switch unit, the signal being sent wirelessly to the controller from the second antenna of the switch unit to the first antenna of the base unit.

2. The laser system of claim 1, wherein the user operable switch is a foot switch.

3. The laser system of claim 1, wherein the switch controller is an RFID tag.

4. The laser system of claim 3, wherein the RFID tag is a passive RFID tag.

5. The laser system of claim 3, wherein the switch controller receives a wireless call signal from the controller and the signal being sent wirelessly to the controller from the second antenna of the switch unit includes a first response corresponding to the user operable switch being in a first state and a second response corresponding to the user operable switch being in a second state.

6. The laser system of claim 5, wherein the user operable switch is a foot switch and the first state corresponds to the foot switch being depressed and the second state corresponds to the foot switch being undepressed.

7. The laser system of claim 6, wherein the controller permits the laser energy to be provided to the laser energy delivery system in response to receiving the first response from the switch unit and restricts the laser energy from being provided to the laser energy delivery system is response to receiving the second response from the switch unit.

8. The laser system of claim 7, wherein the RFID tag is a passive RFID tag.

9. The laser system of claim 8, wherein the tether is devoid of any communication path operatively coupling the controller and the switch controller.

10. The laser system of claim 9, wherein the laser energy delivery system is a catheter system including at least one fiber optic cable which transports the laser energy from the first end of the laser energy delivery system towards the second end of the laser energy delivery system.

11. The laser system of claim 1, wherein the tether is devoid of any communication path operatively coupling the controller and the switch controller.

12. The laser system of claim 1, wherein the laser energy delivery system is a catheter system including at least one fiber optic cable which transports the laser energy from the first end of the laser energy delivery system towards the second end of the laser energy delivery system.

13. The laser system of claim 1, wherein controller sends a call signal to the switch unit to request a status of the user operable switch and the switch controller is powered with a portion of the energy of the call signal.

14. A method operating a laser ablation system including a base unit including a laser and a controller, a laser energy delivery system having a first end which receives laser energy from the laser and a second end which delivers the laser energy to the environment, and a switch unit located remote from the base unit and including a switch controller and a user operable switch having a first state and a second state, the method comprising the steps of:

sending a first wireless signal from the base unit to the switch unit;

receiving a second wireless signal from switch unit at the base unit; and

controlling a communication of laser energy from the laser to the laser energy delivery system in response to the received second wireless signal, wherein when the second wireless signal indicates that the user operable switch is in a first state laser energy is permitted to travel through the laser energy delivery system towards the second end of the laser energy delivery system and when the second wireless signal indicates that the user operable switch is in a second state laser energy is restricted from travel through the laser energy delivery system towards the second end of the laser energy delivery system.

15. A switch unit of a laser system for use in an environment, the laser system including a base unit located remote from the switch unit and a laser energy delivery system having a first end adapted to be coupled to the base unit to receive laser energy from the laser and a second end which delivers the laser energy to the environment, the switch unit comprising:

a switch controller,

a second antenna operatively coupled to the switch controller, and

a user operable switch, wherein the switch controller sends a signal through the second antenna which provides an indication of a state of the user operable switch.

16. The switch unit of claim 15, wherein the user operable switch is a foot pedal switch having a first state wherein a pedal of the foot pedal switch is depressed and a second state wherein the pedal of the foot pedal switch is undepressed.

17. The switch unit of claim 15, wherein the signal is sent in response to a reception of a call signal from the base unit through the second antenna.

18. The switch unit of claim 17, further comprising an energy storage device operatively coupled to the second antenna and operatively coupled to the switch controller, wherein the energy storage device receives power from the second antenna and provides power to the switch controller.