Automatically switching the termination of a communications bus

• US 6,086,576 A
• Filed: 08/30/1997
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Storz Instrument Company (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Bisch, Michael Evremonde
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woo, Julian W.
• Application Number:
  US08/919,606
• Time in Patent Office: 1,046 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/4, 606/34, 606/41, 600/301, 604/65
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00977 the depression depth determining the power rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/10 Furniture specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00736 Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments A61F9/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/04 Programmable interface between a set of switches and a set of functions, e.g. for reconfiguration of a control panel

Abstract

A system for controlling a plurality of ophthalmic microsurgical instruments connected thereto. The microsurgical instruments are for use by a user such as a surgeon in performing ophthalmic surgical procedures. The system includes a data communications bus and a user interface connected to the data communications bus. The user interface provides information to the user and receives information from the user which is representative of operating parameters of the microsurgical instruments. The system also includes surgical modules connected to and controlling the microsurgical instruments as a function of at least one of the operating parameters. The surgical modules are also connected to the data communications bus. The data communications bus provides communication of data representative of the operating parameters between the user interface and the surgical modules. Other features are also disclosed including a main control, an endo-illuminator system, a phacoemulsification handpiece, surgical scissors, a vitrectomy cutter, a surgical foot control, a remote control, a cart.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a plurality of ophthalmic microsurgical instruments connected thereto, said microsurgical instruments for use by a user such as a surgeon in performing ophthalmic surgical procedures, said system comprising:

a data communications bus;

a user interface connected to the data communications bus, said user interface providing information to the user and receiving information from the user which information is representative of operating parameters of the microsurgical instruments;

a first surgical module connected to and controlling one of the microsurgical instruments as a function of at least one of the operating parameters, said first surgical module being connected to the data communications bus;

wherein the data communications bus provides communication of data representative of the operating parameters between the user interface and the first surgical module;

a rack for receiving a plurality of surgical modules, said rack having a backplane on which the data communications bus is positioned and having slots for receiving and engaging the first module, wherein said first module is positioned in one of the slots and engages the data communications bus via the backplane;

wherein the backplane includes a termination circuit for selectively terminating the data communications bus.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the data communications bus comprises a first twisted pair cable having first and second wires,

said termination circuit being connected in series between the ends of the first and second wires of the first twisted pair cable, wherein the termination circuit comprises a normally closed switch connected in series with a resistance for terminating the data communications bus, and

further comprising a second twisted pair cable having first and second wires, said second twisted pair cable for connection to the termination circuit for expanding the data communications bus, said switch being opened when the second twisted pair cable is connected to the termination circuit and the ends of the first and second wires of the first twisted pair cable are connected to the ends of the first and second wires of the second twisted pair cable, respectively.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the termination circuit includes a coil which is energized when the second twisted pair cable is connected to the termination circuit for opening the normally closed switch.

4. A system for controlling a plurality of ophthalmic microsurgical instruments connected thereto, said microsurgical instruments for use by a user such as a surgeon in performing ophthalmic surgical procedures, said system comprising:

a data communications bus;

a user interface connected to the data communications bus, said user interface connected to the data communications bus, said user interface providing information to the user and receiving information from the user which information representative of operating parameters;

a surgical module connected to and controlling one of the microsurgical instruments as a function of at least one of the operating parameters, said surgical module being connected to the data communications bus;

a remote control circuit connected to and controlling a remote control unit as a function of at least one of the operating parameters, said remote control circuit being connected to the data communications bus, said remote control unit operating to change the operating to change the operating parameters of the microsurgical instruments during performance of the surgical procedure;

wherein the data communications bus provides communication of data representative of the operating parameters between the user interface and the surgical module and the remote control circuit;

a rack for receiving the surgical modules, said rack having a backplane on which the data communications bus is positioned and having slots for receiving and engaging modules, wherein the surgical module is positioned in one of the slots and engages the data communications bus via the backplane; and

wherein the backplane includes a termination circuit for selectively terminating the data communications bus.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the data communications bus comprises a first twisted pair cable having first and second wires, said termination circuit being connected in series between the ends of the first and second wires of the first twisted pair cable,

wherein the termination circuit comprises a normally closed switch connected in series with a resistance for terminating the data communications bus, and

further comprising a second twisted pair cable having first and second wires, said second twisted pair cable for connection to the termination circuit for expanding the data communications bus, said switch being opened when the second twisted pair cable is connected to the termination circuit and the ends of the first and second wires of the first twisted pair cable are connected to the ends of the first and second wires of the second twisted pair cable, respectively.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the termination circuit includes a coil which is energized when the second twisted pair cable is connected to the termination circuit for opening the normally closed switch.

7. A termination circuit for selectively terminating a data communications bus comprising:

a data communications bus having a first twisted pair cable having first and second wires;

a normally closed switch connected in series with a resistance for terminating the data communications bus;

a second twisted pair cable having first and second wires, said second twisted pair cable having first and second wires, said second twisted pair cable for connection to the termination circuit for expanding the data communications bus,

wherein said switch is open when the second twisted pair cable is connected to the termination circuit and the ends of the first and second wires of the first twisted pair cable are connected to the ends of the first and second wires of the second twisted pair cable, respectively.

8. The termination circuit of claim 7, wherein the termination circuit includes a coil which is energized when the second twisted pair cable is connected to the termination circuit for opening the normally closed switch.