Surgical footswitch with movable shroud

• US 8,465,473 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: Horvath, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): HAND, MELANIE JO
• Application Number:
  US11/692,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20080243105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,274 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 200/86.5, 200/563, 745/61, 745/63
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• 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 2090/0801 Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/00 Containers, covers, furniture or holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments, e.g. sterile covers drapes specially adapted for instruments A61B46/10

Abstract

The present invention provides a surgical footswitch with a movable shroud. The footswitch is capable of controlling different kinds of surgical instruments and is adaptable by moving the shroud to meet the convenience and safety requirements of each kind of surgical instrument.

Claims

1. A surgical footswitch for controlling a surgical instrument, the surgical footswitch comprising:

a base;

a foot operated input device mounted to the base and operable to activate the surgical instrument; and

a shroud movable between a first position in which the shroud blocks access to the input device from at least a first direction and a second position in which the shroud permits access to the input device from the first direction.

2. The surgical footswitch of claim 1 further comprising an interlock operable to prevent the input device from activating the surgical instrument unless the shroud is in the first position.

3. The surgical footswitch of claim 2 in which the second position comprises removal of the shroud from the base.

4. The surgical footswitch of claim 2 in which the second position comprises a second position on the base.

5. The surgical footswitch of claim 4 in which the shroud is pivotably connected to the base and the shroud is pivotable between the first and second positions.

6. The surgical footswitch of claim 1 further comprising a drive unit mounted to the base, the drive unit being operable to move the shroud in at least one direction between the first and second positions.

7. The surgical footswitch of claim 6 in which the shroud is manually movable in at least one direction between the first and second positions.

8. The surgical footswitch of claim 6 in which the drive unit is operable to move the shroud in both directions between the first and second positions.

9. The surgical footswitch of claim 1 in which the shroud, in the second position, extends away from the base to define a carrying handle for the foot switch.

10. A surgical system comprising:

a first surgical instrument;

a surgical console operably connected to the first surgical instrument; and

a surgical footswitch operably connected to the surgical console, the footswitch having a foot operated input device operable to activate the surgical instrument, and a shroud movable from a first position in which the shroud blocks access to the input device from at least a first direction and a second position in which the shroud permits access to the input device from the first direction.

11. The surgical system of claim 10 wherein the footswitch includes a sensor operably connected to the surgical console, the sensor indicating to the console whether the shroud is in the first position, the console being operable to prevent the footswitch from activating the first surgical instrument when the shroud is not in the first position.

12. The surgical system of claim 10 further comprising a drive unit operably connected to the shroud to move the shroud between the first and second positions, the surgical console being operable to cause the drive unit to move the shroud.

13. The surgical system of claim 10 further comprising a mode selector operable to select between a first operational mode and a second operational mode, the surgical console being responsive to the mode selector to cause the drive unit to move the shroud.

14. The surgical system of claim 13 wherein the surgical console is further responsive to the mode selector to change the function of the footswitch input device.

15. The surgical system of claim 13 further comprising a second surgical instrument, the surgical console being responsive to the mode selector to select between the first and second surgical instruments, the surgical console being operable to cause the drive unit to move the shroud to the first position when the first instrument is selected.

16. The surgical system of claim 15 wherein the surgical console is operable to cause the drive unit to more the shroud to the second position when the second instrument is selected.

17. The surgical system of claim 13 wherein the first surgical instrument comprises a surgical laser.

18. A method of using a surgical footswitch comprising;

operably connecting the footswitch to a first surgical instrument, the footswitch comprising an input device and a shroud;

detecting whether the shroud is in a first position relative to the footswitch in which first position the shroud blocks access to a portion of the input device from at least a first direction;

enabling the footswitch to activate the first surgical instrument only if the shroud is in the first position.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

activating a drive unit to move the shroud relative to the footswitch.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

detecting a mode selector to select between first and second surgical modes; and

activating the drive unit to move the shroud between the first position and a second corresponding to the first and second surgical modes, the second shroud position permitting access to the input device from the first direction.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

operably connecting the footswitch to a second surgical instrument;

detecting as mode selector to select between the first and second surgical instruments;

activating the drive unit to move the shroud to the first position when the first instrument is selected.