Method and device for remote control of an apparatus

• US 9,164,500 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2012
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Buffalo Filter LLC (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Buffalo Filter LLC (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Palmerton, Christopher A., Bonano, Samantha, Pepe, Gregory J., Shvetsov, Kyrylo, Miller, Michael J., Palmerton, Daniel R, Lizauckas, Anthony L III, Kellner, William J
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorsey, Renee
• Application Number:
  US13/348,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20120286179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/001 Means for regulating or setting the meter for a predetermined quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/005 Valves valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25312 Pneumatic, hydraulic modules, controlled valves

Abstract

A remotely activatable valve unit having: an inlet port; an exit port; an electronically activatable valve configured and arranged between the inlet port and the exit port; a receiver having an output; and a controller configured to operate the valve as a function of the receiver output. The exit port may be configured to attach to a vacuum means or to a wall vacuum.

Claims

1. A remote control system comprising:

an electrosurgical device;

a medical vacuum source configured and arranged to provide suction for removing surgical smoke generated by the electrosurgical device;

a valve operatively associated with the medical vacuum source;

a receiver having an output corresponding to the activation of the electrosurgical device;

an output control line for controlling the valve;

a controller, configured to store a threshold parameter into a threshold parameter storage, said threshold parameter being a function of said receiver output; and

wherein said controller is configured to produce a signal on said output control line as a function of said receiver output and said threshold parameter storage.

2. A remote control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receiver is a RF receiver.

3. A remote system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said RF receiver is a Bluetooth transceiver.

4. A remote control system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said RF receiver is an IEEE 802.11b transceiver.

5. A remote control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receiver is an acoustic receiver.

6. A remote control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said RF receiver may comprise an antenna.

7. A remote control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said antenna is an integrated antenna.

8. A remote control system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a delay parameter.

9. A remote control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to produce a signal on said output control line as a function of said delay parameter.

10. A remote control system as set forth in claim 9, and wherein said controller is configured and arranged such that when a threshold setting button is depressed, said controller sets said delay parameter as a function of a duration of time that said threshold setting button is depressed.

11. A remote control system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a logic level parameter used to designate whether a high voltage on said output control line designates an on or an off command to said device.

12. A remote control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said controller is configured and arranged to debounce said RF receiver output.

13. A remote control system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a transistor for amplifying said RF receiver output.

14. A remote control system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a channel for retaining a current carrying wire.

15. A remote control system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said channel is configured to hold a plurality of wires.

16. A remote control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the valve is a wall mounted valve disposed in fluid communication with the vacuum source.