Remote identification and verification of a function prior to use thereof

• US 8,412,361 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2011
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary Argraves, Reynolds, Charles A.
• Original Assignee: Gary Argraves, Reynolds, Charles A.
• Inventors: Reynolds, Charles A., Argraves, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBERTSON, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/080,246
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 700/79, 700/80, 340/4.1, 340/4.11, 340/4.13, 340/4.31, 340/4.34
• US Class Current: 700/79
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00225 Systems for controlling multiple different instruments, e.g. microsurgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Methods, systems and apparatus for enabling function identification to allow an end-user verify that a identified function is a desired function prior to activation or implementation thereof. A signal is sent from an initiating control to a receiver for identifying a particular function associated with the initiating control. An end-user is notified of this identified function and determines if the identified function is a desired function prior to activation thereof. If it is the desired function, the end-user may actuating a control associated with the initiating control to activate the function. If it is not the desired function, the end-user may stop the process or select another initiating control for repeating the process.

Claims

1. A method for function activation control of medical equipment comprising:

providing a medical instrument having a desired function that performs a medical task;

providing a foot-operated device in communication with the medical instrument, said foot-operated device controlling activation of said desired function of said medical instrument;

an end-user temporarily actuating said foot-operated device by applying an initial pressure to said foot-operated device to generate a first signal including an identification of a function prior to activation of said function;

transmitting said first signal to a second device that is separate and distinct from the foot-operated device, said second device receiving said first signal and determining said identification of said function prior to activation thereof;

generating a second signal having said identification of said function at said second device;

transmitting said second signal to a sensory component;

said sensory component alerting said end-user of said identification of said function prior to activation thereof; and

said end-user verifying that said identified function that is about to be activated is the desired function of said medical instrument prior to activation thereof, whereby,

if said identified function is said desired function, then said end-user further actuating said foot-operated device by applying additional pressure to said foot-operated device to immediately activate said desired function and perform said medical task,

if said identified function is not said desired function, then said end-user de-actuating said foot-operated device to prevent activation of said identified function.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the foot-operated device comprises a foot-operated switch, a foot of the end-user applying the initial pressure to said foot-operated switch to generate the first signal whereby,

if said identified function about to be activated is said desired function, then said foot of the end-user applying additional pressure down on the foot-operated switch to activate said desired function and perform said medical task,

if said identified function is not said desired function, then removing said end-user'"'"'s foot from contact with said foot-operated switch to prevent activation of said identified function.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the foot-operated device comprises an electrically operated component selected from the group consisting of a mechanical switch, analog switch, electrical switch, limit switch, process switch, potentiometer, sensors, hall device and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the foot-operated device comprises a single user control.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the foot-operated device comprises at least a two-part user control including a near-on initiator first user control in combination with an activating second user control, the near-on initiator first user control configured to be actuated before the activating second user control, whereby the near-on initiator first user control is actuating to generate the first signal, and if it is determined that said identified function is said desired function, said activating second user control is then actuated to activate said function.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the foot-operated device is actuated by human contact, electrical contact, pressure, partial pressure, rotation, sound activation, remotely and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensory component is selected from the group consisting of a visual component, an auditory component and combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first signal further includes a unique identifier of said foot-operated device and state information corresponding to a state of actuation of said foot-operated device, said state of actuation of said foot-operated device correlating to whether or not said function has been activated.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said state information is used to determine whether at least first and second predetermined threshold values have been met, said first threshold value comprising a start of a warning period at which the foot-operated device has been actuated, and the second threshold value comprising an end of the warning period at which the function has been activated.

10. A method for function activation control of medical equipment comprising:

providing a medical device having a desired function that performs a medical task;

providing a manually implemented foot-operated switch in communication the medical device, the manually implemented foot-operated switch controlling activation of said desired function of the medical device;

an end-user initially actuating said manually implemented foot-operated switch by applying an initial pressure to said foot-operated switch to generate a first signal including an identification of a function prior to activation of said function;

transmitting said first signal from the manually implemented foot-operated switch to a receiving device separate and distinct from the foot-operated switch through a remote wireless communication, said receiving device at least determining said identification of said function prior to activation thereof;

generating a second signal including said identification of said function at said receiving device;

transmitting said second signal to a sensory component;

said sensory component alerting said end-user of said identification of said function prior to activation thereof; and

said end-user verifying that said identified function is the desired function of the medical device prior to activation of said function, whereby,

if said identified function is said desired function, then said end-user further actuating said manually implemented foot-operated switch by applying additional pressure to said foot-operated switch to immediately activate said desired function and perform said medical task,

if said identified function is not said desired function, then said end-user de-actuating said manually implemented foot-operated switch to prevent activation of said identified function.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said function that is to be activated is associated with said medical device that performs a task in a field selected from the group consisting of medical, hospital, scientific, laboratory, commercial, industrial, manufacturing and residential.

12. A system for function activation control of medical equipment comprising:

a foot-operated device in communication with a medical device having a desired function that performs a medical task, said foot-operated device controlling activation of said function of said medical device;

a first signal generated by and wirelessly transmitted from said foot-operated device, the first signal including an identification of a function prior to activation of said function;

a separate and distinct second device receiving the first signal;

a set of instructions within said second device that determine said identification of said function prior to activation thereof;

a second signal generated by and transmitted from said second device;

a sensory component in communication with said second device, said sensory component receiving said second signal and alerting an end-user of said identification of said function prior to activation thereof for enabling determination of whether said identified function is the desired function of the medical device;

said foot-operated device having first and second pressure points, the first pressure point reached by applying an initial pressure to said foot-operated device at which said first signal is generated and the second pressure point reached by applying additional pressure to said foot-operated device at which said identified function is immediately activated.

13. A method for function activation control of a medical device comprising:

providing a first device in communication with a separate and distinct medical instrument having a desired medical function, the first device having a near-on initiator first user control and an activating second user control for controlling activation of said medical function;

an end-user partially actuating said first device by actuating the near-on initiator first user control to generate a first signal including an identification of a function prior to activation of said function;

transmitting said first signal to a separate and distinct second device, said second device receiving said first signal and determining said identification of said function prior to activation thereof;

generating a second signal having said identification of said function at said second device;

transmitting said second signal to a sensory component;

said sensory component alerting said end-user of said identification of said function prior to activation thereof; and

said end-user verifying that said identified function that is about to be activated is the desired medical function prior to activation thereof, whereby,

if said identified function is said desired function, then said end-user immediately and fully actuating said first device by actuating the activating second user control to immediately activate said desired medical function,

if said identified function is not said desired function, then said end-user de-actuating said first device to prevent activation of said function.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first device is a manually implemented device, the method further comprising:

the end-user initially applying partial pressure to said manually implemented device to generate the first signal;

transmitting said first signal to the second device for identification of said function;

said second device receiving said first signal and determining said identification of said function prior to activation thereof;

generating said second signal having said identification of said function at said second device;

transmitting said second signal to said sensory component;

alerting said end-user of said identification of said identified function prior to activation thereof, whereby,

if said identified function about to be activated is said desired function, then the end-user applying full pressure to the manually implemented device to immediately activate said function,

if said identified function is not said desired function, then the end-user ceasing applying pressure to said manually implemented device to prevent activation of said function.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the manually implemented device comprises a foot-operated switch, a foot of the end-user applying the initial pressure to said foot-operated switch to generate the first signal whereby,

if said identified function about to be activated is said desired function, then said foot of the end-user applying additional pressure down on the foot-operated switch to immediately activate said function,

if said identified function is not said desired function, then removing said end-user'"'"'s foot from contact with said foot-operated switch to prevent activation of said function.