Foot switch for medical devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021090828-A1
Application number	US-202017030699-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 24, 2020
Priority date	Sep 24, 2019
Publication date	Mar 25, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present application provides a foot actuation system for controlling one or more medical devices using a foot. The foot actuation system includes a communications unit and a number of actuation units. Each actuation unit includes a user interface for receiving an actuation information item generated by means of a foot, a mechanical connection apparatus for releasable mechanical connection to the communications unit, and a signal transmitter for transmitting a signal representing the actuation information item. The communications unit includes a mechanical connection apparatus for releasable mechanical connection to the actuation units, a signal receiver for receiving the signals representing the actuation information items, and a control signal transmitter for transmitting a control signal to a medical device.

First claim

We claim:

1 . Foot actuation system for controlling one or more medical devices using a foot, comprising:
a communications unit; a plurality of actuation units, wherein each actuation unit comprises a user interface for capturing an actuation information item generated by means of a foot, a mechanical connection apparatus for releasable mechanical connection to the communications unit and a signal transmitter for transmitting a signal representing the actuation information item, wherein the communications unit comprises a mechanical connection apparatus for releasable mechanical connection to a plurality of actuation units, a signal receiver for receiving the signals representing the actuation information items, and a control signal transmitter for transmitting a control signal to a medical device.

2 . Foot actuation system according to the preceding claim, wherein the communications unit comprises a plurality of mechanical connection apparatuses side by side for releasable mechanical connection to a respective actuation unit.

3 . Foot actuation system according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical connection apparatus and the signal transmitter are integrated or arranged rigidly relative to one another at each of the plurality of actuation units, respectively one mechanical connection apparatus and one signal transmitter are integrated or arranged rigidly relative to one another at the communications unit.

4 . Foot actuation system according to claim 1 , wherein the communications unit comprises a plurality of power transmitters for transmitting power to one actuation unit in each case, each of the plurality of actuation units comprises a power receiver for receiving power from the communications unit.

5 . Foot actuation system according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical connection apparatus and the power receiver are integrated or arranged rigidly relative to one another at each of the plurality of actuation units, respectively one mechanical connection apparatus and one power transmitter are integrated or arranged rigidly relative to one another at the communications unit.

6 . Foot actuation system according to claim 1 , wherein the communications unit further comprises a power supply apparatus for supplying power to a plurality of actuation units connected to the communications unit.

7 . Foot actuation system according to the preceding claim, wherein the power supply apparatus of the communications unit comprises a battery or an accumulator or a capacitor or any other energy storage device.

8 . Foot actuation system according to claim 1 , wherein the control signal transmission device of the communications unit comprises a transmitter for wireless transmission of a control signal to a medical device that is controlled by means of the foot actuation system.

9 . Foot actuation system according to claim 1 , wherein each actuation unit comprises at two sides facing away from one another a respective mechanical connection apparatus for mechanical connection to a respective further actuation unit or to the communications unit.

10 . Communications unit for controlling one or more medical devices using a foot, comprising:
a mechanical connection apparatus for releasable mechanical connection to a plurality of actuation units comprising a respective user interface for receiving an actuation information item generated by means of a foot; a signal receiver for receiving a signal representing the actuation information item; a control signal transmitter for transmitting a control signal to a medical device.

11 . Actuation unit for controlling one or more medical devices using a foot, comprising:
a user interface for capturing an actuation information item generated by means of a foot; a mechanical connection apparatus for releasable mechanical connection to a communications unit; a signal transmitter for transmitting a signal representing the actuation information item to the communications unit, herein the actuation unit is embodied to form a foot actuation system comprising a communications unit and a plurality of actuation units according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Storz Karl Se & Co Kg

Inventors

• Zeller Marco
• Sabo Alexander

Classifications

• H01H3/14

  adapted for operation by a part of the human body other than the hand, e.g. by foot · CPC title

• H01H9/168

  making use of an electromagnetic wave communication · CPC title

• A61B90/00 Primary

  Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges · CPC title

• G05B19/04

  Program control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers (G05B19/418 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05G1/305

  Compound pedal co-operating with two or more controlled members · CPC title