Autoclavable remote hand control
First Claim
1. A remote control handpiece for use with a control means for operating a surgical device comprising:
- a plurality of first switch means arranged in a predetermined pattern, said first switch means for transmitting at least one predetermined signal to said control means upon activation;
a plurality of selectively activatable second switch means, each one of which is juxtaposed relative to a respective one of said first switch means for activating same;
movable support means associated with said second switch means for enabling selective movement of each of said second switch means relative to said respective ones of said first switch means to thereby selectively activate or deactivate selected ones of said first switch means; and
an air-tight housing hermetically encasing said first switch means to thereby enable said handpiece to be autoclaved, said housing enabling non-contiguous activation of said first switch means by said second switch means.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An autoclavable remote control unit for controlling the operation of a surgical device. The remote control unit has a plurality of Hall effect sensors arranged on a printed circuit board hermetically encased within a polymeric housing molded from an autoclavable material. Each Hall effect sensor may be activated by an associated magnet which is resiliently supported within a panel which can be closed against the housing or hinged away from the housing. In the closed position, the magnets may be momentarily depressed to activate the associated Hall effect sensor to thereby control the operation of a selected function of the surgical device. The disclosure also includes the method of remotely controlling a surgical device by providing at least one non-contiguously activatable switch element in a hermetically sealed housing and activating the element by bringing into its proximity an activating element.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A remote control handpiece for use with a control means for operating a surgical device comprising:
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a plurality of first switch means arranged in a predetermined pattern, said first switch means for transmitting at least one predetermined signal to said control means upon activation; a plurality of selectively activatable second switch means, each one of which is juxtaposed relative to a respective one of said first switch means for activating same; movable support means associated with said second switch means for enabling selective movement of each of said second switch means relative to said respective ones of said first switch means to thereby selectively activate or deactivate selected ones of said first switch means; and an air-tight housing hermetically encasing said first switch means to thereby enable said handpiece to be autoclaved, said housing enabling non-contiguous activation of said first switch means by said second switch means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A remote control handpiece for use with a control means for operating a surgical device comprising:
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a printed circuit board comprising at least one first switch means for controlling, upon activation thereof, a predetermined operation in said control means; a selectively movable second switch means for activating said at least one first switch means, said second switch means juxtaposed relative to said first switch means; support means associated with said second switch means for enabling selective movement of said second switch means relative to said first switch means to thereby selectively affect a circuit comprising said first switch means; holding means for positioning said support means in a predetermined position to juxtapose said second switch means adjacent said first switch means; and an air-tight housing hermetically encasing said printed circuit board and said first switch means to thereby enable said handpiece to be autoclaved, said housing enabling said second switch means to non-contiguously activate said first switch means.
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10. A remote control handpiece for use with a control means for operating a surgical device comprising:
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at least one non-contiguously activatable switch element means for remotely affecting said control means; an air-tight housing hermetically encasing said switch element means to thereby enable said handpiece to be autoclaved; and activating means for non-contiguously activating said switch element means. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method of producing activating signals in a remote control handpiece for use with a control means for operating a surgical device comprising the steps of:
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providing a first switch means for controlling, upon activation thereof, an operation in said control means; hermetically encasing said first switch means in an autoclavable air-tight housing to thereby enable said handpiece to be autoclaved; providing a second switch means for activating said first switch means; juxtapositioning said second switch means adjacent said first switch means; biasing said second switch means away from said first switch means into a first position wherein said first switch means is not activated thereby; and moving said second switch means into a second position relative to said first switch means to activate same. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of producing activating signals in a remote control handpiece for use with a control means for operating a surgical device comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one non-contiguously activatable switch element means for controlling, upon activation thereof, an operation in said control means; hermetically encasing said at least one switch element means in an autoclavable air-tight housing; and non-contiguously activating said switch element means. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification