934 results about "Foot Switch" patented technology

A stimulator for stimulating the leg or other parts of the body e.g. the leg in a patient with drop foot is provided, the stimulator being controlled by e.g a foot switch but being reliable in use and therefore commanding acceptance by users. The foot switch has to work in adverse environmental conditions and is subject to repeated use so that its characteristics vary with time. The invention provides a functional electrical stimulator for attachment to the leg that has adaptive characteristics and comprises first and second electrodes for attachment to the leg to apply an electrical stimulus, a foot switch for sensing foot rise or foot strike, a circuit responsive to said foot switch for generating stimulation pulses; and means forming part of said circuit for responding to changes in the resistance characteristics of said switch means by adjusting a corresponding response threshold of said circuit.The invention also provides a two-channel stimulator that offers various possibilities for controlling the signals to be supplied to different muscle groups. For example, means may be provided defining a signal pathway between the first and second channels so that the supply of stimulation pulses in one of said first and second channels can be controlled by the state of switch means associated with the other of said first and second channels. In a further embodiment means defining a signal pathway between the first and second channels is arranged so that the supply of stimulation pulses in one of said first and second channels can be controlled by the state of activity of the other of said first and second channels. In a yet further embodiment the first channel has means arranged to cause the stimulation pulses to time-out after a predetermined period and the second channel having no or disabled timing means so that supply of stimulation pulses is continuous in a predetermined state of limb position responsive switch means associated with that channel. The two-channel stimulator can be used e.g., to treat bilateral dropped foot.

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.

In an operation system according to the present invention, a radio foot switch is turned on and a pedal is pressed. Further, a medical device as a control target is turned on and a signal indicating the press operation of the pedal is transmitted together with an ID code. The medical device as the control target receives the signal and stores the ID code, thus to enter an identification state of a remote control device. The medical device returns the ID code and thus the radio foot switch stores the ID code so that the radio foot switch identifies, based on the returned ID code, the medical device which transmits the ID code as the control target. Then, upon pressing the pedal, an operating signal is transmitted to the ID code of the medical device as the control target and thus the remote control operation is possible without fail between the radio foot switch and the medical device as the control target which are not specified.

A control unit for a microscope, a stereomicroscope, or an industrial image processing machine is described, to which at least three lighting units, e.g. for incident light-bright field illumination, incident light-dark field illumination, and for transmitted light illumination, are connected. Respective lighting units are simultaneously controlled according to user commands, e.g. for interval control to simulate a moving light source. The user commands can be input by function keys and/or a foot switch and/or stored in a memory provided in the control unit. Alternatively or in addition, the control unit can receive command statements from an external computer connected via an interface or control signals from an external camera. The control unit detects temperatures of the lighting units and shuts off a lighting unit or generates a warning signal when its temperature becomes excessive.

The present invention relates to a wireless remote control for dental equipment, such as dental scaler tools, dental drills, prophy angles and other rotary instruments. The wireless control switch can control the on and off state of the dental tool, or it can also be programmed to control the speed of the tool by a switch on the tool. The wireless control switch can be in the form of, for example, a foot switch, and replaces manual and foot operated controls formerly connected by cables to the dental tools. This removes a potential safety hazard in the dentist's office and makes the equipment control more versatile and easier to adapt to various office conditions. The wireless control can be battery powered, further eliminating the need for cables.

A foot switch for operation of at least two different functional members of a dental apparatus which is operatively connected with the foot switch has at least two press switches which are each formed as a diaphragm switch comprising a printed circuitry with an arrangement between two carrier foils which as a package are supported on a base plate of the foot switch within a hollow formed by an overlaid cover plate and connected by a signalling line with at least two different functional members of the dental apparatus for transmitting functional control signals upon depression of the cover plate.

A generator is disclosed to generate a drive signal to a surgical device. The generator includes an ultrasonic generator module to generate a first drive signal to drive an ultrasonic device, an electrosurgery/radio frequency (RF) generator module to generate a second drive signal to drive an electrosurgical device, and a foot switch coupled to each of the ultrasonic generator module and the electrosurgery/RF generator module. The foot switch is configured to operate in a first mode when the ultrasonic device is coupled to the ultrasonic generator module and the foot switch is configured to operate in a second mode when the electrosurgical device is coupled to the electrosurgery/RF generator module. The generator further includes a user interface to provide feedback in accordance with the operation of any one of the ultrasonic device and the electrosurgical device in accordance with a predetermined algorithm.

A portable self spotting weight lifting safety apparatus comprising uprights positioned on either side of a weight lifting bench. Barbell support arms extending from the uprights and into the pathway of barbells. Rotating screws located in the uprights raise and lower the support arms. When assistance is necessary, the exerciser presses a foot actuated switch which in turn operates a motor to rotate the screws to raise the support arms.

An X-ray diagnostic apparatus includes an X-ray generating unit which generates X-rays, an X-ray detecting unit which detects X-rays transmitted through a subject, a C-arm on which the X-ray generating unit and the X-ray detecting unit are mounted, a support mechanism which movably supports the C-arm, a high voltage generating unit which generates a high voltage for generating X-rays from the X-ray generating unit, a first foot switch to input a first user instruction associated with generation of the X-rays, a second foot switch to input a second user instruction associated with movement of the C-arm, and a control unit which controls the high voltage generating unit in accordance with the input of the first user instruction and controls the support mechanism in accordance with the input of the second user instruction.

A garment steaming device having a novel heater and heater control design for a garment steamer that features a low-powered standby setting parallel to a high powered steam setting. The invention also features a convenient switch location to activate the high-powered heater, thereby selecting and controlling the steam and the standby feature. Furthermore the clothes steamer features a retractable cord reel, which can be easily activated with a foot switch.

A magnetic resonance imaging system and method are provided that include user control of certain functions using physical gestures, such as hand motions or the like. The gesture control aspects can include one or more cameras, and a processor configured to detect and recognize gestures corresponding to predetermined commands and to provide signals to execute the commands. A verification switch, such as a foot switch, can be included to improve safety and reliability of the gesture control aspects. This switch can be used to activate the gesture detection aspects and/or to confirm a recognized gesture command prior to its execution.

A device for cleaning a chimney preferably includes a cleaning head having a hub with brush arms extending from the hub, a cable assembly connected to the cleaning head and having a flexible cable surrounded by a casing, with the casing being sized to allow the cable to rotate in the casing without rotating the casing, at least one positioning assembly for holding the cleaning head a desired distance from the interior walls of a chimney, a motor attached to one end of the cable, and a positioning rod effective for pushing said cleaning head and cable assembly up a chimney for a distance of at least eight feet. A camera may be attached to the casing to allow observation and/or recording of the chimney while the cleaning head is working. The device may further include an air knife for dislodging debris when the device is used to sweep a chimney, and/or a vacuum for removing waste dislodged by the device. The motor may be a variable speed motor that is controlled by a foot switch to allow an individual chimney sweep to operate the cable, the rod, and the motor speed simultaneously.

A communications system for a vehicle having a foot pedal useable to control communications at a user interface in the vehicle. By controlling the user interface at least in part through activation of the foot pedal, communications in the vehicle are made more convenient and less dangerous as the user need not use his hands to operate the communications user interface. The foot pedal may perform a dedicated communications control function, or may be programmable to perform a communications control function of a user's choosing. Several foot pedals may be used, either in conjunction with a single seat, or each associated with a particular seat in the vehicle. Foot pedal communication settings may also be stored within the communications user interface for easy retrieval, and may be retrievable through entry of a user ID, such as may come from a key fob.

A foot switch device for activating a dental or medical treatment apparatus is provided. The foot switch device is particularly suitable for controlling an ultrasonic dental scaler. The foot switch device includes a base plate; a central housing attached to the base plate; an upper, moveable cover mounted on the housing; and a connecting collar attached to the upper cover for retaining the cover on the housing while allowing the cover to move upwardly and downwardly relative to the housing. The central housing contains a first electrical switch for transmitting a first signal to the apparatus, and a second electrical switch for transmitting a second signal to the apparatus. An operator depresses the upper cover with his or her foot to activate the switching mechanism and control the operation of the dental or medical apparatus.