Ergonomic Foot Pedal With Intersecting Axes For Surgical Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
During ophthalmic surgery, foot-operated joysticks cause unwanted hand movement and instability, leading to potential patient injury and difficulty in accurately controlling surgical instruments due to the need to move the leg and thigh, resulting in overshot or undershot motions.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system featuring a foot pedal with intersecting axes and pressure sensors that allow for precise control of surgical devices by sensing rotations and pressures, enabling hands-free operation with improved stability and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional foot-operated joystick with four push button switches is used, then the surgeon can control surgical equipment with feet, but the surgeon's hands become unstable due to leg and thigh movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical push-button switch system with a pressure-sensitive sensor system that detects pressure distribution and applied force vectors. This substitution allows for more precise control without requiring large foot movements, thereby maintaining hand stability while preserving hands-free operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the control parameter from discrete button presses to continuous pressure and force vector measurements. By measuring the magnitude and direction of applied force through pressure sensors, the system enables fine-grained control adjustments without requiring the surgeon to move their leg or thigh, thus maintaining hand stability.
2Ease of operation
If the surgeon moves the foot between switches to control the field of view, then directional control is achieved, but the desired location may be overshot or undershot
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from binary switch states to continuous analog measurements of pressure magnitude and force vector direction. This allows for proportional control where the degree of field of view movement corresponds precisely to the applied force, eliminating overshooting or undershooting issues inherent in discrete switch activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure-sensitive system provides continuous feedback about the surgeon's intended direction and magnitude of movement through force sensing. This feedback mechanism enables real-time adjustment of control input, allowing the surgeon to achieve precise positioning by modulating the force applied rather than relying on fixed switch actuation points.
3Device complexity
If four discrete push button switches are used for foot control, then simple device structure is maintained, but control precision and ergonomics are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces multiple discrete mechanical switches with a unified pressure-sensitive sensor array that can detect both the location and magnitude of applied force. This substitution maintains relatively simple device structure while dramatically improving control precision through analog force measurement rather than discrete switch states.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure-sensitive sensor system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it detects the location of applied force (equivalent to which button is pressed), the magnitude of force (providing control precision), and the direction of force vector (enabling ergonomic natural foot movements). This multi-functionality replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate sensors or switches.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a more ergonomic and stable mechanism for controlling surgical equipment, reducing the likelihood of hand movement and improving surgical precision and patient safety by allowing surgeons to operate devices with finer control and reduced muscle engagement.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure sensor(s) sense at least one rotation of the foot pedal around the first axis and the second axis
Implementation Method 2
The pressure sensor(s) provide at least one output based on the force(s) exerted
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system provide a surgical system including a foot pedal and at least one pressure sensor. The foot pedal has a first axis and a second axis. The first axis and the second axis intersect and are oriented at a nonzero angle. The pressure sensor(s) are coupled with the foot pedal. The pressure sensor(s) sense at least one rotation of the foot pedal around the first axis and the second axis. The pressure sensor(s) provide at least one output based on the rotation(s).