User interface for remote control catheterization
First Claim
1. A remote control catheterization system comprising:
- a propelling device, which controllably inserts a flexible, elongate probe into the body of a patient; and
a control unit, in communication with the propelling device, and comprising user controls which are operated by a user of the system remote from the patient to control insertion of the probe into the body by the propelling device,wherein the user controls include an intuitive user interface comprising a handle that can be moved longitudinally, forward and back along a single longitudinal axis, and also can be moved rotationally, in rotation around the longitudinal axis;
the intuitive user interface comprising motion sensors that detect longitudinal motion and rotational motion of the handle and convert them to signals; and
signal communication circuitry that communicates the signals to the control unit for commanding the propelling device to move the probe;
in the same direction and distance as the handle,the intuitive user interface including a fail-safe mechanism that, when activated, allows communication between the intuitive user interface and the control console and that, when deactivated, prevents the communication, andwherein, the handle is a longitudinal member being horizontal in an operative position and being in a non-horizontal orientation in a non-operative position, the handle being operatively connected to a first contact that moves with the handle as the handle is moved from a horizontal to a non-horizontal orientation, the fail-safe mechanism including a second contact that does not move with the handle as the handle is moved from a horizontal to a non-horizontal orientation, the fail safe mechanism being implemented as two contacts in the handle that are activated when brought into contact, as the handle is moved from a horizontal to a non-horizontal position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A remote control catheterization system comprising: a propelling device, which controllably inserts a flexible, elongate probe into the body of a patient; and a control unit, in communication with the propelling device, and comprising user controls which are operated by a user of the system remote from the patient to control insertion of the probe into the body by the propelling device, wherein the user controls include an intuitive user interface comprising a handle that can be moved longitudinally, forward and back along a longitudinal axis, and also can be moved rotationally, in rotation around the longitudinal axis; the intuitive user interface comprising motion sensors that detect longitudinal motion and rotational motion of the handle and convert them to signals; and signal communication circuitry that communicates the signals to the control unit for commanding the propelling device to move the probe in respective direction and distance as the handle.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A remote control catheterization system comprising:
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a propelling device, which controllably inserts a flexible, elongate probe into the body of a patient; and a control unit, in communication with the propelling device, and comprising user controls which are operated by a user of the system remote from the patient to control insertion of the probe into the body by the propelling device, wherein the user controls include an intuitive user interface comprising a handle that can be moved longitudinally, forward and back along a single longitudinal axis, and also can be moved rotationally, in rotation around the longitudinal axis; the intuitive user interface comprising motion sensors that detect longitudinal motion and rotational motion of the handle and convert them to signals; and
signal communication circuitry that communicates the signals to the control unit for commanding the propelling device to move the probe;
in the same direction and distance as the handle,the intuitive user interface including a fail-safe mechanism that, when activated, allows communication between the intuitive user interface and the control console and that, when deactivated, prevents the communication, and wherein, the handle is a longitudinal member being horizontal in an operative position and being in a non-horizontal orientation in a non-operative position, the handle being operatively connected to a first contact that moves with the handle as the handle is moved from a horizontal to a non-horizontal orientation, the fail-safe mechanism including a second contact that does not move with the handle as the handle is moved from a horizontal to a non-horizontal orientation, the fail safe mechanism being implemented as two contacts in the handle that are activated when brought into contact, as the handle is moved from a horizontal to a non-horizontal position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A remote control catheterization system comprising:
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a propelling device, which controllably inserts a flexible, elongate probe into the body of a patient; and a control unit, in communication with the propelling device, and comprising user controls which are operated by a user of the system remote from the patient to control insertion of the probe into the body by the propelling device wherein the user controls include an intuitive user interface comprising a handle that can be moved longitudinally, forward and back along a single longitudinal axis, and also can be moved rotationally, in rotation around the longitudinal axis; the intuitive user interface comprising motion sensors that detect longitudinal motion and rotational motion of the handle and convert them to signals; and
signal communication circuitry that communicates the signals to the control unit for commanding the propelling device to move the probe;
in the same direction and distance as the handle; anda return mechanism that, upon operator release of the handle, returns the handle to an initial longitudinal and rotational position, wherein the probe remains-fixed when the handle returns to the initial longitudinal and rotation position. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method for catheterization comprising:
- inserting an elongate, flexible probe into a body passage;
feeding a portion of the probe outside the body into a propelling device, which advances the probe through the body passage; and
controlling the propelling device to advance the probe from a location remote from the body, wherein;controlling the propelling device comprises operating an intuitive user interface comprising a handle that is moved longitudinally, forward and back along a single longitudinal axis, and also moved rotationally, in rotation around the longitudinal axis; and detecting via motion sensors longitudinal and rotational positions of the handle and converting them to position signals; communicating the position signals to a control console, via communication circuitry, thereby commanding the propelling device to move the probe the same direction and distance as the handle was moved; and returning, upon operator release of the handle, the handle to its original longitudinal and rotational position, and providing a control for a user to determine whether the probe moves as the handle returns to its original longitudinal and rotational position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- inserting an elongate, flexible probe into a body passage;
Specification