Medical Foot Switch With Dynamic LED Function Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical foot switches can only display a limited number of functions and differentiate them using LEDs, and providing a display for text is complex and expensive.
Innovation Solution
A medical foot switch with a multicolored LED that can produce various colors, allowing multiple functions to be assigned dynamically by a control unit, enabling each function to be represented by a specific color, and allowing for flexible assignment of functions to pedals without the need for fixed assignments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple LEDs of different colors are used to indicate multiple functions, then the number of distinguishable functions increases, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple LEDs of different colors into a single integrated multi-color LED component. This single component can emit red, green, yellow, and other colors to indicate different device states and functions, thereby reducing the total number of LED components needed while maintaining the ability to distinguish multiple functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-color LED serves multiple functions simultaneously - it can indicate different operational states, alert conditions, and function assignments through color changes. A single LED component replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate LEDs, making the indicator system more versatile while reducing complexity.
2Loss of information
If a display screen is provided on the foot switch to show text information, then information display capability improves, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color changes in the LED to convey different types of information about device functions and states. Different colors represent different functions or status conditions, providing meaningful information feedback to the user without requiring a text display screen. This approach maintains information communication while avoiding the complexity of display hardware.
3Ease of operation
If fixed color coding is assigned to pedals, then function identification is simplified, but the adaptability to different device functions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic color assignment where the LED color changes based on the currently selected or active device function. Instead of fixed color coding, the system can adaptively assign colors to different functions through software configuration, allowing the same physical pedal to represent different functions with different color indicators depending on the operational context.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the color parameter of the LED dynamically based on the assigned function. By modifying the color output parameter of the multi-color LED according to the selected function, the system maintains simple visual identification while achieving high adaptability to different device functions and configurations.
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
Enables the clear differentiation and representation of a large number of functions using a single multicolored LED, enhancing operational safety and flexibility in complex medical systems by avoiding the need for multiple foot switches and reducing complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
An LED is also located on the foot switch to indicate the assigned function in a specific color. The LED used here is a multi-colored LED capable of producing light in a variety of different colors.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A foot switch (1, 26) for use with a medical device (16, 27, 28) has an interface (10) for communication between the foot switch (1, 26) and a control unit (12) of the device (16, 27, 28), and at least one pedal (2, 3) for actuating the foot switch (1, 26) with a foot. An actuation sensor (17) detects actuation of the foot switch (1, 26) to activate a function of the medical device (16, 27, 28). The control unit (12) assigns the function to the pedal (2, 3) via the interface (10), and the assigned function is indicated by a multi-colored LED (4, 5) on the foot switch (1, 26).