Pneumatic control handpiece for surgical and medical use

• US 6,508,823 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eschmann Holdings Limited (Steris Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Saphir Medical
• Inventors: Gonon, Bertrand
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/334,914
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 604/27, 604/30, 604/35, 604/36, 604/44, 606/1, 606/159, 606/166, 606/167, 606/41, 606/42, 433/100, 200/81.H
• US Class Current: 606/167
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3203 Fluid jet cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/7411 by changing the size of a vent in combination with changing the cross-section of the line A61M1/7413
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/7413 by changing the cross-section of the line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/7415 by deformation of the fluid passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/772 operating alternately
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/774 Handpieces specially adapted for providing suction as well as irrigation, either simultaneously or independently

Abstract

The handpiece for use in a surgical or medical operation, includes means for generating instructions to control operation of at least one apparatus connected to the handpiece or associated with the surgical or medical operation through a pneumatic variation or a series of pneumatic variations in a fluid transported by at least one control conduit connecting the handpiece to a pressure or depression generator, the variation or series of variations being generated by a direct or indirect digital action by the operator on the control conduit or an opening of the conduit, the variation or series of variations being detected, then processed and exploited to remotely control the apparatus. The control method comprises generating at least one pressure or depression variation or discontinuity by a digital action on an area, a specific shape, or a key on the body of the handpiece connected by a conduit to a pressure or depression generator, the variation or discontinuity being detected by a detector or a sensor coupled to a circuit which generates a corresponding detection signal or detection signals, and the detection signal or detection signals being processed to control the operation of the apparatus, so that the handpiece constitutes a remote control for the apparatus concerned. The invention is of interest to handpiece manufacturers.

Claims

1. Handpiece-controlled device for use in a surgical or medical operation, which comprises:

a handpiece connected to at least one control conduit for connection to a pressure or depression generator, said handpiece comprising means for generating a pneumatic variation or a series of pneumatic variations in a fluid transported by said at least one control conduit, said pneumatic variation or series of pneumatic variations being generated by a direct or indirect digital action of an operator on said at least one control conduit or an opening of said at least one conduit,

at least one apparatus connected to the handpiece or associated with the surgical or medical operation, said at least one apparatus connected to the handpiece or associated with the surgical or medical operation comprising a central operating unit, and

a detector mounted in series on said at least one control conduit, said detector being coupled to said central operating unit of said at least one apparatus connected to the handpiece or associated with the surgical or medical operation,

wherein said pneumatic variation or series of pneumatic variations are detected by said detector and transformed into an electrical signal which is transmitted to said central operating unit of said at least one apparatus connected to the handpiece or associated with the surgical or medical operation,

such that the electrical signal is processed and exploited in the central operating unit to remotely control said at least one apparatus connected to the handpiece or associated with the surgical or medical operation.

2. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 1, comprising liquid pressure generator for supplying a high-pressure and/or flowing sterile operating liquid, wherein

said handpiece comprises a body and a head,

a high-pressure jet conduit or flow conduit runs through the handpiece and opens out on the head of the handpiece, and

said handpiece is connected to a said liquid pressure generator for supplying operating liquid to the handpiece.

3. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 2, wherein an aspiration conduit runs through the handpiece, said aspiration conduit being connected to a source of aspiration or an aspiration generator.

4. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 2, wherein said handpiece comprises two control conduits which run through the handpiece on respective sides of said jet conduit or flow conduit and comprise respective openings located symmetrically on lateral sides of the body of the handpiece in an area comprising ergonomic and anatomic conformations located in proximity to or in the area of the position of the thumb and the forefinger of a hand of the operator which holds the handpiece,

said control conduits being connected to the pressure or depression generator via sensors or detectors sensitive to pressure, depression, or flow rate variation.

5. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic variation or series of pneumatic variations are depression or aspiration discontinuities.

6. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 5, wherein said at least one control conduit is connected to a vacuum system of an operation room.

7. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic variation or series of pneumatic variations are pressure discontinuities.

8. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 6, wherein said at least one control conduit is connected to a compressor.

9. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic variation or series of pneumatic variations are flow rate discontinuities.

10. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one control conduit is permanently closed and is temporarily opened to generate a control instruction.

11. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 10, wherein said at least one control conduit comprises an opening which is closed by a valve, said valve being temporarily opened by a manual control action of the operator.

12. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one control conduit is permanently open and is temporarily closed to generate a control instruction.

13. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 12, wherein said at least one control conduit comprises an opening on a lateral side of the handpiece in proximity to or in the area of a natural position of at least one finger of the operator, so that said operator can temporarily close the opening with said at least one finger, directly or through an intermediary closing element.

14. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 13, wherein said handpiece comprises an intermediary closing element through which the operator can close the opening, and the intermediary element is an elastically lifted push button.

15. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 14, wherein the intermediary element comprises a sealing head with elastic return to a position freeing the opening, which, in an operating position, is forced against the opening, said sealing head being connected to a deformable body through which air runs and which is retracted and airtight in the operating position of the sealing head.

16. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one control conduit comprises a section projecting or exposed in an area of manual control, which can be reached by a finger of the operator for a direct or indirect digital collapsing action.

17. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 1, wherein the detector is a flow rate detector mounted in series in said at least one conduit connecting the handpiece to the depression or pressure generator.

18. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one control conduit or a section of said at least one control conduit between the detector and the depression or pressure generator has a reduced diameter.

19. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 1, comprising at least another apparatus associated with the surgical or medical operation, wherein the pneumatic variation or series of pneumatic variations generated by the operator, after detection and processing, is or are used to control the operation of the at least one apparatus connected to the handpiece and the at least another apparatus associated with the surgical or medical operation.

20. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 1, wherein the detector is a sensor which is modified by the pneumatic variation or series of pneumatic variations.

21. Handpiece-controlled device according to claim 1, wherein the central operating unit interprets a complex electrical signal corresponding to a plurality of said pneumatic variation or series of pneumatic variations successively detected by said detector as a single instruction for remotely controlling said at least one apparatus connected to the handpiece or associated with the surgical or medical operation.

22. Method for controlling with a handpiece an apparatus associated with an operation in which said handpiece is used by an operator, comprising:

generating at least one pressure or depression variation or discontinuity by a digital action of the operator on an area, a specific shape, or a key on the body of the handpiece, said handpiece being connected by a conduit to a pressure or depression generator,

detecting said at least one pressure or depression variation or discontinuity by a detector or a sensor,

generating an electrical detection signal or detection signals corresponding to said at least one pressure or depression variation or dicontinuity in a circuit to which said detector or sensor is coupled, and

processing the detection signal or detection signals to control the operation of the apparatus, so that the handpiece constitutes a remote control for the apparatus concerned.

23. Method according to claim 22, comprising:

generating a plurality of pressure or depression variations or discontinuities by a succession of digital actions by the operator on the handpiece, and

interpreting the detection signal or detection signals corresponding to said plurality of pressure or depression variations or discontinuities as a single instruction by a decoding circuit for remotely controlling the apparatus concerned.