Control device for a medical system and control method for medical system

• US 7,353,068 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Honda, Yoshitaka, Tanaka, Kazue, Ono, Hiroo
• Primary Examiner(s): Vincent; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Norton; Jennifer L
• Application Number:
  US10/915,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20050043828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 606/12, 606/38, 606/169, 606/34, 606/1, 606/126, 606/42, 715/701, 715/702, 710/316, 710/317, 901/5, 901/6, 901/9, 901/23, 901/30, 700/3, 700/17, 700/80, 700/83, 700/85, 700/45, 700/56, 700/65, 700/245, 700/257, 700/260, 600/126
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00225 Systems for controlling multiple different instruments, e.g. microsurgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320082 for incising tissue

Abstract

A control device for a medical system includes: an instructing unit, which can be instructed by an operator, for outputting an instructing signal according to the instruction by the operator; a control signal generating unit for receiving an instructing signal, and generating multiple control signals for controlling multiple medical apparatuses in accordance with the instructing signal; and multiple output units, which can be connected with a medical apparatus, for outputting control signals to the corresponding medical apparatus.

Claims

1. A control device for a medical system comprising:

an instructing unit, which can be instructed by an operator, for outputting an instructing signal corresponding to the instruction by the operator, the instructing unit includes a mode selection means for selecting one of a singular operation of multiple medical apparatuses and simultaneous operation of multiple medical apparatuses based upon a single depression of a switch, the singular operation of multiple medical apparatuses is selected if the switch is depressed for less than a predetermined period of time, and the simultaneous operation of multiple medical apparatuses is selected if the switch is depressed for greater than the predetermined period of time;

central processing unit for receiving the instructing signal, and generating multiple control signals for controlling multiple medical apparatuses based on the instructing signal; and

multiple output units, which can be connected to the medical apparatuses, for outputting the control signals to the medical apparatuses connected thereto.

2. The control device for a medical system according to claim 1, the central processing unit comprising:

simultaneous output control means for controlling the multiple medical apparatuses to perform output simultaneously;

selection output control means for controlling the multiple medical apparatuses to perform output individually; and

selection means capable of selecting the simultaneous output control means and the selection output control means based upon a selection signal received from the instruction unit.

3. The control device for a medical system according to claim 2, further comprising a monitor for displaying a set mode, information related to at least one selected medical apparatus, an image of each control switch on the instruction unit and control function associated with each control switch.

4. The control device for a medical system according to claim 1, further comprising a handpiece, which is connected to the multiple medical apparatuses, for receiving output from the multiple medical apparatuses, and subjecting a portion to be treated to medical treatment.

5. The control device for a medical system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a terminal connection detecting circuit, which is provided within the handpiece, for detecting whether or not output from the medical apparatus is connected thereto;

transmission means, provided within the handpiece, for transmitting the detected results output from the detecting circuit to the central processing unit; and

warning means, provided in the central processing unit, for performing warning operation in a state wherein the detected results output from the transmission means show that output from the medical apparatus is not connected to the handpiece, and in a case that output control is attempted to the medical apparatus.

6. The control device for a medical system according to claim 4, further comprising:

holding detection means for detecting whether or not the handpiece is held; and

switch allocation means for automatically allocating an individual function to switch pedals of a foot switch corresponding to the multiple medical apparatuses in accordance with the detected results from the holding detection means.

7. The control device for a medical system according to claim 4, wherein the handpiece includes at least one of a monopolar terminal or a bipolar terminal.

8. The control device for a medical system according to claim 1, wherein the multiple medical apparatuses include at least one of an electric surgical device, an ultrasonic surgical device, a thermal scalpel, and a laser surgical device.

9. A control method for a medical system for controlling a control device for a medical system to which is connected multiple medical apparatuses, the control method comprising:

a mode selecting step for selecting one of a singular operation of multiple medical apparatuses and simultaneous operation of multiple medical apparatuses with a single depression of a switch, the singular operation of multiple medical apparatuses is selected if the switch is depressed using a single depression for less than a predetermined period of time, and the simultaneous operation of multiple medical apparatuses is selected if the switch is depressed using a single depression for greater than the predetermined period of time;

an instructing signal generating step for generating an instructing signal based upon the depression of the switch;

a simultaneous control signal generating step for generating a simultaneous control signal for controlling multiple medical apparatuses simultaneously in accordance with one instructing signal generated in the instructing signal generating step; and

a singular control signal generating step for generating a singular control signal for controlling multiple medical apparatuses individually in accordance with one instructing signal generated in the instructing signal generating step.

10. The control method for a medical system according to claim 9, further comprising:

a detecting step for detecting whether or not output from the medical apparatus is connected to a handpiece, for receiving output from the multiple medical apparatuses which are connected to the control device for a medical system, and subjecting a portion to be treated to medical treatment;

a transmission step for transmitting the detected results in the detecting step to the control device for a medical system; and

a warning step to be carried out by the control device for a medical system, for performing warning operation in a state wherein the detected results in the transmission step show that output from the medical apparatus is not connected to the handpiece, and in a case that output control is attempted to the medical apparatus.