Footswitch operable to control a surgical system

• US 8,680,412 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2010
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: Horvath, Christopher, Buczek, Mark, Rowe, T. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Thomas M
• Application Number:
  US12/836,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20110106068A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 310/319, 310/338, 310/339, 745/14, 200/86.5, 200/52.R, 307/113
• US Class Current: 200/86.5
• 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 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00194 Means for setting or varying the repetition rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0023 Foot control
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/38 comprising means to continuously detect pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 21/26 adapted for operation by a part of the human body other than the hand, e.g. by foot
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/076 Key stroke generating power
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/014 Application surgical instrument
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2054 Signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20888 Pedals

Abstract

The present invention provides a surgical footswitch that includes a base, a pedal, an encoder assembly, a wireless interface, and an internal power generator. The pedal mounts upon the base and pivots. The encoder assembly couples to the pedal. As the pedal pivots, the encoder assembly translates the mechanical signal of the pedal into a control signal based on the pedals position and/or orientation. The wireless interface couples the encoder assembly to receive the control signal. The wireless interface also couples the surgical footswitch to a surgical console operable to control and direct surgical equipment. The wireless interface passes the control signal from the encoder to the surgical console, which then directs the surgical equipment based on the control signal. This wireless interface eliminates the tangle of wires or tethers, which may be a hazard in the surgical theater. The internal power generator translates footswitch movement into stored energy to eliminate potential failures of the footswitch during a procedure and overcome the need to replace batteries within the footswitch.

Claims

1. A method of controlling surgical equipment, comprising:

repositioning a pedal within a surgical footswitch;

coupling the pedal to an encoder, wherein the encoder is operable to generate a control signal based on repositioning of the pedal;

wirelessly coupling a surgical footswitch to a surgical console;

wirelessly providing control signals to the surgical console;

directing the surgical equipment with the surgical console and based on the control signal;

mounting a motion detector assembly on a user;

communicatively coupling the motion detector to the surgical footswitch;

transmitting motion information from the motion detector to the surgical footswitch, wherein the encoder is operable to generate a second control signal based on motion information; and

directing the surgical equipment with the surgical console and based on the second control signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising powering the surgical footswitch with an internal power generator operable to translate footswitch movement into stored energy.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the internal power generator comprises an inductive power generator or piezoelectrical power generator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion detector assembly and surgical footswitch are wirelessly coupled.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the surgical console directs the surgical equipment to a predetermined state when wireless communications between the surgical footswitch and surgical console are interrupted.

5. A method of firing a surgical laser with a dual switch surgical footswitch, comprising:

pivoting a pedal about a plane associated with a base of the surgical footswitch;

activating a first switch to generate a first control signal as the pedal orients past a first predetermined point;

initializing the surgical laser when the first switch is activated;

activating a second switch to generate a second control signal as the pedal orients past a second predetermined point; and

firing the surgical laser when the second switch is activated.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

coupling the pedal to an encoder, wherein the encoder is operable to generate a third control signal based on repositioning of the pedal;

coupling a surgical footswitch to a surgical console;

wirelessly providing control signals to the surgical console; and

directing the surgical equipment with the surgical console and based on the control signals.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein a trigger time between activation of the first switch and second switch is between about 100 ms and 300 ms.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein initializing the surgical laser comprises ramping the laser to power.