System for providing intermittent communication without compromising a sterile field

• US 8,242,885 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2007
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Adrian Goodman
• Original Assignee: Joseph J. Eberle
• Inventors: Eberle, Joseph, Prokop, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US11/895,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20090054005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,819 Days
• Field of Search: 340/600, 340/825.72, 709/217
• US Class Current: 340/5.71
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/44 Transmit/receive switching

Abstract

A system for providing intermittent communication while preserving a sterile area is provided. Sterility is preserved because the user can switch between transmitting and receiving mode without needing to touch a physical button, switch, or dial. The system is particularly valuable to doctors or dentists performing procedures. The system includes a two-way communication device coupled with a sensor, the sensor being capable of detecting the presence of an object, generally the user'"'"'s hand or an instrumentality of the user, located closer than a predetermined distance from the sensor in a predetermined direction relative to the sensor. Upon such detection, the communication device is switched from receiving to tranmitting mode and remains in transmitting mode until a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the object has ceased to be located within the predetermined distance in the predetermined direction of the sensor.

Claims

1. A system for providing intermittent, two-way communication by a user in a sterile field, without threatening the sterile field, comprising:

a first two-way communication device coupled with a sensor, the sensor and the first two-way communication device being configured to be mounted on the user so as to be portable with the user and located within the sterile field,

a second two-way communication device being located outside the sterile field, said second two-way communication device being coupled to said first two way communication device;

said sensor being configured to detect the presence of an object located closer than a predetermined distance from said sensor in a predetermined direction relative to said sensor;

wherein when said sensor detects an object closer than said predetermined distance in said predetermined direction, said sensor activates a switch, said switch being configured to switch said first two-way communication device from receiving mode to transmitting mode;

said system further comprising a retrigerable timer coupled to said switch and configured to switch said two-way communication device back to receiving mode automatically after an adjustable, pre-determined elapsed time;

wherein said two-way communication device remains in transmitting mode until a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since said object has ceased to be located within said predetermined distance in said predetermined direction of said sensor.

2. A system for providing intermittent communication as claimed in claim 1 wherein said two-way communication device comprises a two-way transistor.

3. A system for providing intermittent communication as claimed in claim 1 wherein said predetermined distance from said sensor is between 2 inches and 6 inches.

4. A system for providing intermittent communication as claimed in claim 1 wherein said predetermined amount of time may be adjusted.

5. A system for providing intermittent communication as claimed in claim 1 wherein said predetermined amount of time is between 3 seconds and 7 seconds.

6. A system for providing intermittent communication as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises a light-emitting diode coupled with a photo-sensor;

wherein said light emitting diode and said photo-sensor are each aimed in said predetermined direction; and

wherein said light-emitting diode continually emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation and said photo-sensor triggers an electronic switch when said photo-sensor is receiving more than a predetermined level of electromagnetic radiation.

7. A system for providing intermittent communication as claimed in claim 6 wherein said light-emitting diode emits pulsed infrared radiation.

8. A system for providing intermittent communication as claimed in claim 6 wherein said light-emitting diode emits electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength selected from the group consisting of infrared, microwave, and ultraviolet.

9. A system for providing intermittent communication as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises an ultrasonic beam emitting element coupled with an ultrasonic sensing element;

wherein said ultrasonic beam emitting element and said ultrasonice beam sensing element are each aimed in said predetermined direction;

and wherein ultrasonic emitting element continually emits a beam of ultrasonic waves and said ultrasonic sensing element triggers an electronic switch when said ultrasonic sensing element is receiving more than a predetermined level of ultrasonic waves.