Multi-functional surgical control system switching interface

• US 7,543,588 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2006
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. (Intuitive Surgical Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Incorporated (Intuitive Surgical Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Wang, Yulun, Jordan, Charles S., Uecker, Darrin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Farah; Ahmed M
• Application Number:
  US11/473,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20060241575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 606 10- 18, 606 32- 52, 607/88, 607/89, 607/96, 607/101, 607/115, 128/898, 704/3, 704/4, 704200-210, 704/230, 704/233, 704251-255, 704/270, 704/275, 901 2- 9, 901/30, 901/36, 901/46, 600101-104, 600106-109, 600/114, 600/118, 381/110, 414/2
• US Class Current: 128/898
• 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 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00203 with speech control or speech recognition
• 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 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

An interface which allows a surgeon to operate multiple surgical devices from a single input device. The input device may be a foot pedal that provides output signals to actuate a number of different surgical devices. The surgical devices may include a robotic arm, a laser, an electrocautery device, or an operating table. The interface has an input channel that is coupled to the input device and a plurality of output channels that are coupled to the surgical devices. The interface also has a select input channel which can receive input commands to switch the input channel to one of the output channels. The select channel may be coupled to a speech interface that allows the surgeon to select one of the surgical devices with a voice command. The surgeon can operate any device by providing an input command which switches the input channel to the desired output channel.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving at a switching interface a first input from a mechanical input device, the first input selecting a first surgical apparatus;

receiving at the switching interface a second input from a speech interface, the second input selecting a second surgical apparatus;

determining that a conflict exists between the first input and the second input;

determining a priority between the first input and the second input according to a specified prioritization scheme; and

selecting one of the first surgical apparatus and second surgical apparatus according to the determined priority.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the conflict exists between the first input and the second input when the first input and the second input are received at substantially the same time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the prioritization scheme identifies a particular input channel as having priority to the switching interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the prioritization scheme identifies a particular input device as having priority to the switching interface.

5. A method comprising:

receiving a control input from a mechanical input device;

receiving a voice selection command;

converting the voice selection command to a command signal;

switching, responsive to the command signal, the control input to one of a first surgical apparatus or a second surgical apparatus to allow for control of a selected surgical apparatus using the mechanical input device; and

controlling the surgical apparatus including receiving one or more control inputs including a control input to vary a power of the selected surgical apparatus.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the control input varies the power of a laser.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the control input varies the power of an electrocautery device.