Medical Device Control Interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016015476-A1
Application number	US-201414331484-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 15, 2014
Priority date	Jul 15, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An interface component is provided for use with a first glove and a medical equipment component. The interface component comprises at least one switch located on the first glove, where each of the at least one switch provides a control signal to the medical equipment component. The interface component may further comprise a controller coupled to the plurality of switches, a power supply module coupled to the controller, and a wireless communications interface coupled to the controller in communication with a wireless interface of the medical equipment component.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An interface component for use with a first glove and a medical equipment component, the interface component comprising:
at least one switch located on the first glove, each of the at least one switch providing a control signal to the medical equipment component.

2 . The interface component according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one switch includes a plurality of switches and the interface component further comprises:
a controller coupled to the plurality of switches; a power supply module coupled to the controller; and a wireless communications interface coupled to the controller in communication with a wireless interface of said medical equipment component.

3 . The interface component according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one switch is coupled to the medical equipment component with physical wire.

4 . The interface component according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one switch is in a location on a palm of the first glove that is accessible to fingers of a hand that is insertable into the first glove.

5 . The interface component according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one switch is located in at least one of a back of the first glove and a side of the first glove.

6 . The interface component according to claim 1 , wherein the first glove includes a surgical glove and the interface component is integrated into the surgical glove.

7 . The interface component according to claim 1 , wherein the first glove is designed to be used with a second surgical glove and the first glove is wearable underneath the second surgical glove.

8 . The interface component according to claim 1 , wherein the first glove is designed to be used with a second surgical glove and the first glove is wearable over top of the second surgical glove.

9 . The interface component according to claim 1 , wherein the medical equipment component includes a medical navigation system used when performing surgery and the first glove is wearable by a surgeon.

10 . The interface component according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one switch includes a plurality of switches and each switch is selected from the group consisting of a joystick, a touchpad, a button, and a slider.

11 . The interface component according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one switch includes a plurality of switches and the plurality of switches each has a different textured surface for tactile identification by a wearer of the first glove.

12 . The interface component according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one switch includes a plurality of switches and the plurality of switches is selected from the group consisting of a binary switch, a variable switch, and a flexible pressure sensor.

13 . The interface component according to claim 2 , wherein the wireless communications interface is selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, Wifi, and iRDA.

14 . The interface component according to claim 1 , wherein the first glove is fabricated using a material that is elastic and suitable for sterilization.

15 . The interface component according to claim 14 , wherein the first glove is made of any one of latex and spandex.

16 . The interface component according to claim 2 , wherein the power supply module includes a rechargeable battery selected from the group consisting of nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), nickel-cadmium (NiCd), lithium ion, and lithium polymer.

17 . The interface component according to claim 2 , wherein the interface component further includes a transducer coupled to the controller for providing an output, the transducer including at least one of a light emitting device for providing a visual alert, a sound emitting device for providing an audible alert, and a vibratory device for providing a tactile alert.

18 . An interface component for use with a surgical glove and a medical equipment component, the interface component comprising:
at least one switch located on the interface component, each of the at least one switch providing a control signal to the medical equipment component, the interface component being wearable on a hand of a surgeon underneath the surgical glove.

19 . The interface component according to claim 18 , wherein the at least one switch includes a plurality of switches and interface component further comprises:
a controller coupled to the plurality of switches; a power supply module coupled to the controller; and a wireless communications interface coupled to the controller in communication with a wireless interface of said medical equipment component.

20 . The interface component according to claim 18 , wherein the at least one switch includes a plurality of switches and the plurality of switches includes flexible pressure switches located on the interface component, the interface component being flexible.

Assignees

• Synaptive Medical Barbados Inc

Inventors

• Jagga Victor

Classifications

• A61B19/56 Primary

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61B34/76

  Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback · CPC title

• A61B2018/00595

  Cauterization · CPC title

• G08C2201/32

  Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device · CPC title

• A61B2090/3735

  Optical coherence tomography [OCT] · CPC title