Multi-functional surgical foot controller with integrated shroud

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10901450-B2
Application number	US-201916545219-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2019
Priority date	Aug 21, 2018
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

Multi-functional foot controller with treadle for controlling a first function and as an integrated shroud for a switch that controls an additional function.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foot controller comprising:
a base;
a treadle having a pair of side supports rotatably coupled with the base, the pair of side supports separated by a gap, the treadle further having a pedal surface coupled with the pair of side supports at a distal end of the treadle, wherein the gap between the pair of side supports accommodates an object for providing an upward rotational lift on a bottom surface of the pedal surface;
a control assembly configured to determine an angular position of the treadle relative to the base and to convert the angular position into a first signal describing an angular position of the pedal surface; and
a switch configured to emit an additional signal upon depression of the switch, wherein the switch is positioned at a distal end of the base, wherein the switch is at least partially shrouded by the pedal surface at a default angular position of the pedal surface relative to the base, and wherein the switch is at least partially exposed upon an upward rotational lift of the pedal surface away from the distal end of the base;
wherein the switch and the pedal surface are arranged such that the switch is not actuated upon a maximum downward rotational depression of the pedal surface toward the distal end of the base.

2. The foot controller of claim 1 , wherein an underside of the pedal surface contains a recess positioned such that the switch is at least partially housed in the recess after a downward rotational depression of the pedal surface toward the distal end of the base.

3. The foot controller of claim 1 , further comprising a spring assembly coupled to the base and to the treadle, the spring assembly configured to place the pedal surface of the treadle at the default angular position with respect to the base and configured to compress with an application of torque on the pedal surface by a downward rotational depression of the treadle.

4. The foot controller of claim 1 , wherein the foot controller is communicatively coupled with a surgical console, and wherein the first signal describing the angular position of the pedal surface is used to control a surgical tool coupled with the surgical console.

5. A foot controller comprising:
a base;
a treadle having a pair of side supports rotatably coupled with the base, the pair of side supports separated by a gap, the treadle further having a pedal surface coupled with the pair of side supports at a distal end of the treadle, wherein the gap between the pair of side supports accommodates an object for providing an upward rotational lift on a bottom surface of the pedal surface;
a control assembly configured to determine an angular position of the treadle relative to the base and to convert the angular position into a first signal describing an angular position of the pedal surface; and
a switch configured to emit an additional signal upon depression of the switch, wherein the switch is positioned at a distal end of the base, wherein the switch is at least partially shrouded by the pedal surface at a default angular position of the pedal surface relative to the base, and wherein the switch is at least partially exposed upon an upward rotational lift of the pedal surface away from the distal end of the base;
wherein the foot controller is communicatively coupled with a therapeutic laser module, and wherein the additional signal is used to control the emission of one or more lasers from the therapeutic laser module.

6. The foot controller of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a substantially flat surface substantially sized to accommodate an operator's foot.

7. The foot controller of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a heel rest area in an area of a proximal end of the base, and wherein the base includes a depression in a substantially flat surface in a position of an arch of an operator's foot when the operator's foot is placed on the base with a heel proximal to the heel rest area and a toe end substantially on the pedal surface.

8. The foot controller of claim 7 , wherein the depression allows the operator to insert a top surface of the operator's foot into the depression and under the pedal surface, provide upward rotational lift on a bottom surface of the pedal surface, and actuate the switch with a bottom surface of the operator's foot.

9. A foot controller comprising:
a base;
a treadle having a pair of side supports rotatably coupled with the base, the pair of side supports separated by a gap, the treadle further having a pedal surface coupled with the pair of side supports at a distal end of the treadle, wherein the gap between the pair of side supports accommodates an object for providing an upward rotational lift on a bottom surface of the pedal surface;
a control assembly configured to determine an angular position of the treadle relative to the base and to convert the angular position into a first signal describing an angular position of the pedal surface; and
a switch configured to emit an additional signal upon depression of the switch, wherein the switch is positioned at a distal end of the base, wherein the switch is at least partially shrouded by the pedal surface at a default angular position of the pedal surface relative to the base, and wherein the switch is at least partially exposed upon an upward rotational lift of the pedal surface away from the distal end of the base;
wherein a bottom surface of the pedal surface is rounded for facilitating a smooth entry of the operator's foot and an easy withdrawal of the operator's foot from under the pedal surface.

10. The foot controller of claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of side supports are rotatably coupled with the base via a rotational joint, wherein each of the rotational joints includes a ball plunger that interfaces with a feature in the base at a particular raised rotational position of the treadle, thereby maintaining the particular raised rotational position of the treadle.

11. The foot controller of claim 5 , wherein an underside of the pedal surface contains a recess positioned such that the switch is at least partially housed in the recess after a downward rotational depression of the pedal surface toward the distal end of the base.

12. The foot controller of claim 5 , further comprising a spring assembly coupled to the base and to the treadle, the spring assembly configured to place the pedal surface of the treadle at the default angular position with respect to the base and configured to compress with an application of torque on the pedal surface by a downward rotational depression of the treadle.

13. The foot controller of claim 5 , wherein the foot controller is communicatively coupled with a surgical console, and wherein the first signal describing the angular position of the pedal surface is used to control a surgical tool coupled with the surgical console.

14. The foot controller of claim 5 , wherein the base comprises a substantially flat surface substantially sized to accommodate an operator's foot.

15. The foot controller of claim 5 , wherein the base includes a heel rest area in an area of a proximal end of the base, and wherein the base includes a depression in a substantially flat surface in a position of an arch of an operator's foot when the operator's foot is placed on the base with a heel proximal to the heel rest area and a toe end substantially on the pedal surface.

16. The foot controller of claim 15 , wherein the depression allows the operator to insert a top surface of the operator's foot into the depression and under the pedal surface, provide upward rotational lift on a bottom surface of the ped

Assignees

• Alcon Inc

Inventors

• Jawidzik Geoffrey C

Classifications

• A61B2017/00367

  Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like · CPC title

• A61F2009/00874

  Vitreous · CPC title

• A61F9/008 Primary

  using laser · CPC title

• G05G1/44

  pivoting · CPC title

• G05G5/05

  Means for returning or tending to return controlling members to an inoperative or neutral position, e.g. by providing return springs or resilient end-stops (G05G5/28 takes precedence) · CPC title