Control device for controlling electromedical appliances

• US 7,498,532 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH (C. Erbe GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH (C. Erbe GmbH)
• Inventors: Hundt, Roland, Kuhner, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A
• Application Number:
  US10/578,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20070078539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,586 Days
• Field of Search: 200/11.R, 200 5102- 5106, 200/86.5, 745/12, 74560-562, 307/119, 433/101, 433/113, 606/1, 606/32, 606/41, 606/126, 606/118, 378/63, 378/98, 378/115, 561/4, 561/6, 600/126, 600/118
• US Class Current: 200/86.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0023 Foot control
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/14 adapted for operation by a part of the human body other than the hand, e.g. by foot

Abstract

A known arrangement for controlling electromedical appliances or groups thereof employs foot-actuated switches or push-button switches, which are separately connected to each appliance. When it is necessary to control a large number of appliances or appliance groups, a large number of push-buttons or pedal switches is also required, the connections of which cause disturbances in the operating room. In the present invention the switching means or pedal switches are provided with connecting means by way of which the switching means can be connected to one another. Allocation means are provided in order to allocate to the control signals particular controlling functions with reference to the appliances or appliance groups. Information-transfer means transmit control signals from the switching means or pedal switches to the appliances or appliance groups.

Claims

1. Control device for controlling a plurality of electromedical appliances that may include a group of said appliances comprising

at least two switching means generating control signals to control said appliances,

connecting means disposed on said switching means connecting said switching means to one another,

allocation means adapted to allocate to said control signals particular controlling functions with reference to said appliances, and

information-transfer means adapted to transmit said control signals from said switching means to said appliances.

2. Control device according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprise a data bus adapted such that when a plurality of said switching means are connected to one another, the control signals of all said switching means are available at said data bus.

3. Control device according to claim 2, wherein each of said switching means comprises two signal couplers that are connected to the data bus such that when said switching means are connected together in series, said data bus can be connected to said information-transfer means by means of at least one of the signal couplers.

4. Control device according to claim 1, wherein said information-transfer means comprise at least one transmitter connected to said switching means and at least one receiver connected to said appliances for wireless transmission of said control signals.

5. Control device according to claim 1, comprising a base plate on which said switching means is set.

6. Control device according to claim 5, wherein said base plate comprises intermediate connecting means to connect said switching means to one another.

7. Control device according to claim 1, comprising coding means that identify said switching means by the appliances.