Remote controlled thermal treatment system and method for controlling the system remotely to thermally treat sterile surgical liquid

• US 6,371,121 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microtek Medical Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Medical Company, Inc. (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Faries, Durward I. Jr., Heymann, Bruce R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US09/572,903
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 128/849-853, 465/5, 4DI/G 1.8, 62/66, 62/68, 623/40, 623/42
• US Class Current: 128/849
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/10 specially adapted for instruments, e.g. microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0094 using a remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/0241 Apparatus for the preparation of hot packs, hot compresses, cooling pads, e.g. heaters or refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/14 adapted for operation by a part of the human body other than the hand, e.g. by foot
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/181 using a programmable display, e.g. LED or LCD

Abstract

A thermal treatment system for thermally treating a sterile medium is controlled via a foot actuated switch to thermally treat the sterile medium to a desired temperature and/or form (e.g., slush). The thermal treatment system includes a basin recessed in a system top surface, while a surgical sterile drape is placed over the system and within the basin to form a drape container for containing the sterile medium. The basin may be configured to cool the sterile medium and form sterile surgical slush, or heat the sterile medium to provide warm sterile liquid. A dislodgment mechanism may be employed within a cooling basin to manipulate the drape and dislodge frozen pieces of sterile medium adhered to the drape. Information pertaining to the sterile medium and system operation may be displayed on a system display that has dimensions sufficient to provide visibility of the information to users located within extended ranges from time system. Alternatively, the thermal treatment system may be responsive to a remote control unit to enable users to control operation of the system remotely. The remote control unit may control various operating parameters and features of the system, and preferably emits system commands in the form of code signals. A receiver is employed by the thermal treatment system to receive the transmitted signals and facilitate system operation in response to those signals. In addition, the foot actuated switch and remote control unit may be utilized with thermal treatment systems having a plurality of heating and/or cooling basins.

Claims

1. A thermal treatment system for thermally treating a sterile medium in a sterile surgery environment, said system comprising:

a system housing including a top surface;

a basin disposed on said top surface for containing said sterile medium;

a thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium disposed in said basin; and

a controller selectively manipulable by a user to control system operation, wherein said controller is external of, detached from and selectively movable relative to said housing and controls operation of said thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium in accordance with said manipulation.

2. The system of claim 1 further including a display disposed on a wall of said system housing to indicate information relating to operation of said system.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said controller includes a foot actuated switch to control system operation, and wherein said foot actuated switch transmits control signals to said system to control system operation in accordance with said manipulation.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said controller includes a remote control unit having a transmitter to transmit control signals in the form of energy waves in response to said manipulation, and wherein said system further includes a control circuit to receive said energy waves and control system operation in response to said control signals.

5. The system of claim 4 further including a surgical drape covering and substantially conforming to said basin to serve as a drape container for said sterile medium, wherein said drape is constructed of materials enabling said control signals transmitted by said remote control unit to pass through said drape.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said thermal treatment unit includes a heater to heat said sterile medium contained in said basin, and wherein said controller controls operation of said heater.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said thermal treatment unit includes a refrigeration device to cool said sterile medium contained in said basin, and wherein said controller controls operation of said refrigeration device.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said refrigeration device congeals said sterile medium to form surgical slush;

wherein said basin includes a dislodgement mechanism to detach surgical slush congealed to basin walls and collect said slush within said basin; and

wherein said dislodgement mechanism is responsive to said controller and operates in accordance with said controller manipulation.

9. The system of claim 1 further including:

a plurality of said basins for containing said sterile medium; and

a plurality of thermal treatment units each for thermally treating said sterile medium contained in a corresponding basin;

wherein said thermal treatment units are responsive to said controller and operate to thermally treat said sterile medium in accordance with said controller manipulation.

10. In a thermal treatment system for thermally treating a sterile medium including a system housing having a top surface, a basin disposed on said top surface for containing said sterile medium and a thermal treatment unit to thermally treat the sterile medium disposed in said basin, a method of controlling said system to thermally treat said sterile medium comprising the step of:

(a) controlling said thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium in accordance with manipulation of a controller disposed external of and detached from said housing and selectively manipulable by a user to control system operation.

11. The method of claim 10 further including the step of:

(b) displaying information relating to said sterile medium and/or system via a display disposed on a wall of said system housing.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said controller includes a foot actuated switch to control system operation, and step (a) further includes:

(a.1) transmitting control signals;

to said system from said foot actuated switch to control system operation in accordance with said controller manipulation.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said controller includes a remote control unit having a transmitter to transmit control signals in the form of energy waves in response to said controller manipulation and said system further includes a control circuit, and step (a) further includes:

(a.1) receiving said energy waves and controlling system operation in accordance with said control signals via said control circuit.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said system further includes a surgical drape covering and substantially conforming to said basin to serve as a drape container for said sterile medium, wherein said drape is constructed of materials enabling said control signals transmitted by said remote control unit to pass through said drape, and step (a.1) further includes:

(a.1.1) receiving said energy waves through said drape and controlling system operation in accordance with said control signals.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein said thermal treatment unit includes a heater, and step (a) further includes:

(a.1) controlling said thermal treatment unit to heat said sterile medium via said heater in accordance with said controller manipulation.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein said thermal treatment unit includes a refrigeration device, and step (a) further includes:

(a.1) controlling said thermal treatment unit to cool said sterile medium via said refrigeration device in accordance with said controller manipulation.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein step (a.1) further includes:

(a.1.1) controlling said thermal treatment unit to congeal said sterile medium via said refrigeration device in accordance with said controller manipulation.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said basin includes a dislodgement mechanism, and step (a) further includes:

(a.2) controlling said dislodgement mechanism to detach surgical slush congealed to basin walls and collect said slush within said basin in accordance with said controller manipulation.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein said system further includes a plurality of said basins for containing said sterile medium and a plurality of thermal treatment units each for thermally treating said sterile medium contained in a corresponding basin, and step (a) further includes:

(a.1) controlling said thermal treatment units to thermally treat said sterile medium in accordance with said controller manipulation.

20. A thermal treatment system for thermally treating a sterile medium comprising:

a system housing including a top surface;

a basin disposed on said top surface for containing said sterile medium;

a thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium disposed in said basin; and

a foot actuated switch selectively manipulable by a user to transmit control signals to said system to control system operation in accordance with said manipulation.

21. A thermal treatment system for thermally treating a sterile medium comprising:

a system housing including a top surface;

a basin disposed on said top surface for containing said sterile medium;

a thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium disposed in said basin;

a remote control unit selectively manipulable by a user and having a transmitter to transmit control signals to said system in the form of energy waves in response to said manipulation; and

a control circuit to receive said energy waves and control system operation in accordance with said control signals.

22. In a thermal treatment system for thermally treating a sterile medium including a system housing having a top surface, a basin disposed on said top surface for containing said sterile medium and a thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium disposed in said basin, a method of controlling said system to thermally treat said sterile medium comprising the step of:

(a) controlling said thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium in accordance with manipulation of a foot actuated switch selectively manipulable by a user to control system operation, wherein said foot actuated switch transmits control signals to said system to control system operation in accordance with said manipulation.

23. In a thermal treatment system for thermally treating a sterile medium including a system housing having a top surface, a basin disposed on said top surface for containing said sterile medium and a thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium disposed in said basin, a method of controlling said system to thermally treat said sterile medium comprising the step of:

(a) controlling said thermal treatment unit to thermally treat said sterile medium in accordance with manipulation of a remote control unit selectively manipulable by a user to control system operation, wherein said r-emote control unit transmits control signals to said system in the form of energy waves to control system operation in accordance with said manipulation.