INSTRUMENT CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 3,702,940 A
• Filed: 06/09/1971
• Issued: 11/14/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James M. Stewart
• Original Assignee: James M. Stewart
• Inventors: Stewart, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hohauser, Herman J.
• Application Number:
  US05/151,233
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 317/102 32/22 128/303.1 307/112,116,11,38,39,149,150,113,119,92
• US Class Current: 307/326
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/20 Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/24 Stands Mayo stands A61B50/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0007 Control devices or systems fluid temperature control in air and water supply systems of dental machines or apparatus A61C1/0069

Abstract

A control system is provided for selectively and randomly operating a plurality of surgical instruments from a power source with a single operator controlled switch. The system includes an instrument supporting tray including a plurality of instrument holders for receiving and holding the surgical instruments, a sensing circuit for sensing removal of any one of the surgical instruments from its holder, a power source operated by an operator controlled switch and a control circuit operatively connected to the sensing circuit for connecting the power source to a surgical instrument when it is removed from its holder while preventing the remaining surgical instruments from being operated by the power source.

Claims

1. A control system for selectively operating a plurality of powered instruments from a power source, comprising:

instrument supporting means including a plurality of instrument holders for receiving and holding the instruments;

sensing means for sensing removal of any one of the instruments from its holder; and

control means responsive to the sensing means for connecting the power source to an instrument when it is removed from its holder while at the same time preventing the remaining instruments from being operated by the power source.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

each instrument holder is mounted for movement from a first position when an instrument is placed therein to a second position when the instrument is removed therefrom; and

the sensing means comprises a plurality of switches mounted adjacent the instrument holders, each of the switches being actuated upon movement of its corresponding instrument holder from its first position to its second position when an instrument is removed therefrom.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the control means comprises:

a plurality of relays for operatively connecting the instruments to the power source; and

a circuit connected to the switches and responsive to the actuation of any one of the switches upon removal of an instrument from its corresponding holder for operating the relay connected to the instrument removed to thereby connect the power source to said instrument and for preventing the remaining relays from being operated until the instrument is replaced in its holder.

4. A system for controlling the operation of a plurality of surgical instruments from a single power source to enable the instruments to be individually and selectively operated and to prevent inadvertent, simultaneous operation of more than one of the instruments, said system comprising:

an instrument tray including a plurality of instrument holders for receiving and holding the surgical instruments, each instrument holder being mounted for movement from a first position when an instrument is placed thereon to a second position when the instrument is removed therefrom said instrument tray including sensing means responsive to movement of said instrument holders for sensing removal of any one of the surgical instruments from its holder; and

control means operatively connected to said sensing means for connecting the power source to an instrument removed from its holder while preventing the remaining instruments from being operated by the power source.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said instrument tray comprises:

a base;

a frame mounted on said base;

each of said instrument holders being mounted on a lever pivotally mounted on the frame for movement between a first, downward position when an instrument is placed in the holder and a second, upward position when the instrument is removed from the holder; and

spring-bias means for biasing each lever into its upward position when an instrument is removed from its holder mounted thereon yet permitting said lever to move to its downward position when an instrument is replaced in the holder.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

said sensing means comprises a plurality of normally open magnetic reed switches mounted on said base in alignment with said levers; and

which includes a magnet mounted on each lever for closing its corresponding magnetic reed switch when the lever is moved to its downward position, said control means being actuated to connect the power source to a removed instrument and to prevent the remaining instruments from being operated when its lever moved to its upward position and the switch returns to its normally open position.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein:

said sensing means comprises a plurality of microswitches mounted on said base in alignment with said levers and operatively engaged by said levers, each microswitch being actuated by movement of the corresponding lever.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said control means comprises:

a plurality of relays for connecting the instruments to the power source; and

an electromechanical circuit connected to Said microswitches for locating the microswitch actuated upon removal of an instrument from its holder and operating the relay connected to the instrument to connect the power source to the instrument and for preventing the remaining relays from being operated until the instrument is replaced in its holder.

9. The system of claim 5, which includes:

latching means for selectively securing each of said levers in its downward position to permit said instrument tray to be operated at less than full capacity.

10. The system of claim 5, including means for limiting upward movement of said levers when the instruments are removed from said instrument holders.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said means for limiting upward movement of said levers comprises a plurality of adjustable stop bolts mounted on said frame and extending through slots in the levers to limit their upward movement upon removal of the instruments from said holders.

12. The system of claim 5, including a single operator controlled switch connected to the power source for controlling operation of the instrument removed from its holder and connected to the power source by the control means.