Remote control console for surgical control system

• US 5,249,121 A
• Filed: 10/27/1989
• Issued: 09/28/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Storz Instrument Company (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.), American Cyanamid Co (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: American Cyanamid Co (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Ameiss, Michael S., Weidenbenner, John J., Baum, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Envall, Jr., Roy N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huntley, David
• Application Number:
  US07/427,614
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 340/716, 340/717, 340/734, 364/413.01, 364/413.02, 364/413.03, 364/709.08, 364/709.09, 364/709.1, 128/709, 128/710, 128/712
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1626 Control means; Display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery

Abstract

A remote control unit for use with an ophthalmic surgical system having a main control console with video display screen and operator interface. The remote controller is connected by an electrical umbilical cord to the main console and provides a second operator display and membrane-switch interface for use by a surgeon or other member of the surgical team. This remote control unit has its own housing with a splash-resistant front face that is divided into primary and secondary operator interface panels. The primary panel includes a rectangular display field having a plurality of back-illumination lights for selectively illuminating legends found on a replaceable legend card that fits within a slot behind the face plates. Control functions corresponding to the illuminated legends may be selected or de-selected by pressing nearby switches arranged in locations adjacent to the display field. The secondary panel also contains membrane switches and legends illuminated by back-lighting. The remote console includes its own microcontroller which electronically receives information from and sends information to the main console via a serial communications interface. Through the use of replaceable legend cards, the remote console is capable of simulating surgical mode and procedure screens which are also displayed upon the CRT screen of the main console.

Claims

1. A remote operator interface console for a microsurgical control system for operating a plurality of microsurgical instruments, said system having a main control console, said main control console having a main processor and a display screen for simultaneously displaying multiple fields of information associated with the microsurgical instruments, the remote console comprising:

communications means, connected to the main processor, for causing the remote console to communicate microsurgical operating function data with the control system; and

display means, connected to the communication means, for simulating the display of at least part of the fields of information associated with the microsurgical instruments displayed on the display screen;

the display means includes a plurality of light emitting means, selectably activated by data transmitted from the main control console, for illuminating selected areas of a display region;

microcontroller means, connected to the light emitting means, for receiving the transmitted data and activating individual ones of the light emitting means in response thereto;

card means, removably placed over at least some of the light emitting means, for providing legends illuminated by passing emitted light from the emitting means therethrough to simulate the display of the information contained upon the display screen of the main console; and

means for detecting compatibility of said card means with a preset operating condition of said control system and enabling said remote console when compatibility is detected.

4. The remote console of claim 1 wherein said communication means comprises:

serial communication interface means, connected to the microsurgical control system, for receiving transmitted data from the remote console; and

interrupt generation means, connected to the serial communication interface means and to the main processor, for generating an interrupt signal to the main processor upon receipt of the transmitted data from the remote console.

5. The remote console of claim 1, further comprising:

switch means, connected to the microcontroller means, for modifying the displayed information upon the display screen of the main control console.

6. The remote console of claim 1, further comprising:

local switch means for enabling an operator to select surgical functions to be carried out by control equipment in the main console.

7. The remote console of claim 6, wherein:

the switch means includes a plurality of switches, with at least some of the switches being arranged adjacent to selected illuminated areas.

2. A remote operator interface console for a microsurgical control system for operating a plurality of microsurgical instruments, said system having a main control console, said main control console having a main processor and a display screen for simultaneously displaying multiple fields of information associated with the microsurgical instruments, the remote console comprising:

communications means, connected to the main processor, for causing the remote console to communicate microsurgical operating function data with the control system; and

display means, connected to the communication means, for simulating the display of at least part of the fields of information associated with the microsurgical instruments displayed on the display screen;

the display means includes a plurality of light emitting means, selectably activated by data transmitted from the main control console, for illuminating selected areas of a display region;

microcontroller means, connected to the light emitting means, for receiving the transmitted data and activating individual ones of the light emitting means in response thereto;

card means, removably placed over at least some of the light emitting means, for providing legends illuminated by passing emitted light form the emitting means therethrough to simulate the display of the information contained upon the display screen of the main console; and

means for detecting compatibility of said card means with a predetermined alignment of actuators on said remote console.

8. The remote console as defined in claim 2 wherein said communication means comprises:

serial communication interface means, connected to the microsurgical control system, for receiving transmitted data from the remote console; and

interrupt generation means, connected to the serial communication interface means and to the main processor, for generating an interrupt signal to the main processor upon receipt of the transmitted data from the remote console.

9. The remote console of claim 2, further comprising:

switch means, connected to the microcontroller means, for modifying the displayed information upon the display screen of the main control console.

10. The remote console of claim 2, further comprising:

local switch means for enabling an operator to select surgical functions to be carried out by control equipment in the main console.

11. The remote console of claim 10, wherein:

the switch means includes a plurality of switches, with at least some of the switches being arranged adjacent to selected illuminated areas.

3. A remote operator interface console for a microsurgical control system for operating a plurality of microsurgical instruments, said system having a main control console, said main control console having a main processor and a display screen for simultaneously displaying multiple fields of information associated with the microsurgical instruments, the remote console comprising:

communications means, connected to the main processor, for causing the remote console to communicate microsurgical operating function data with the control system; and

display means, connected to the communication means, for simulating the display of at least part of the fields of information associated with the microsurgical instruments displayed on the display screen;

the display means includes a plurality of light emitting means, selectably activated by data transmitted from the main control console, for illuminating selected areas of a display region;

microcontroller means, connected to the light emitting means, for receiving the transmitted data and activating individual ones of the light emitting means in response thereto;

card means, removably placed over at least some of the light emitting means, for providing legends illuminated by passing emitted light from the emitting means therethrough to simulate the display of the information contained upon the display screen of the main console; and

means for detecting compatibility of said card means with a predetermined alignment of illumination means for card identification in said remote console.

12. The remote console as defined in claim 3 wherein said communication means comprises:

serial communication interface means, connected to the microsurgical control system, for receiving transmitted data from the remote console; and

interrupt generation means, connected to the serial communication interface means and to the main processor, for generating an interrupt signal to the main processor upon receipt of the transmitted data from the remote console.

13. The remote console of claim 3, further comprising:

switch means, connected to the microcontroller means, for modifying the displayed information upon the display screen of the main control console.

14. The remote console of claim 3, further comprising:

local switch means for enabling an operator to select surgical functions to be carried out by control equipment in the main console.

15. The remote console of claim 14, wherein:

the switch means includes a plurality of switches, with at least some of the switches being arranged adjacent to selected illuminated areas.