Footswitch operable to control a surgical system
US7781941B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 27, 2006 |
| Grant date | Aug 24, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 24, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/20888
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.