Haptic Footswitch Treadle with Segmented Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical footswitches require significant power and large actuators to provide haptic feedback, limiting their efficiency and making them less suitable for wireless, battery-powered operation.
Innovation Solution
A haptic footswitch design that isolates the haptic surface from the treadle base, using suspension elements and actuators to provide feedback, reducing the mass moved and power required, allowing for wireless, battery-powered operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire treadle is vibrated to provide haptic feedback, then the surgeon receives tactile indication of treadle position, but the power consumption increases and larger actuators are required
Solution Approach 1:
The treadle is segmented into two functional parts: a stationary treadle base and a movable haptic surface. The haptic surface is separated from the treadle base by suspension elements, allowing independent movement. This segmentation enables the actuator to move only the lightweight haptic surface rather than the entire treadle assembly, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining haptic feedback functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Suspension elements are introduced as intermediary components between the treadle base and haptic surface. These suspension elements (springs or elastomers) mediate the connection, allowing the haptic surface to move independently in response to actuator activation while remaining mechanically coupled to the treadle base. This intermediary mechanism enables efficient force transmission with minimal power requirement.
2Reliability
If the entire treadle is moved to provide haptic feedback, then tactile indication is achieved, but the actuator size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The treadle assembly is divided into a heavy stationary base and a light movable haptic surface. By segmenting the system this way, the actuator only needs to move the lightweight haptic surface rather than the entire heavy treadle assembly, allowing the use of smaller, more compact actuators while maintaining effective haptic feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension elements serve as intermediaries that decouple the heavy treadle base from the light haptic surface. This intermediary mechanism allows the actuator to efficiently move only the necessary lightweight components, reducing the actuator size requirement while preserving the mechanical connection and feedback pathway.
3Device complexity
If conventional footswitch design is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but wireless operation becomes impractical due to power requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The footswitch is restructured into modular segments: a stationary base containing the actuator and electronics, and a movable haptic surface connected via suspension elements. This segmented architecture reduces overall power consumption by isolating the moving mass, making wireless operation feasible while maintaining relatively simple structural principles.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the mass parameter of the moving component by separating the haptic surface from the heavy treadle base. This parameter change (reducing moving mass) enables wireless operation by reducing power requirements, while the overall structural simplicity is preserved through the use of simple suspension elements like springs or elastomers.
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 design achieves haptic feedback with lower power consumption, enabling wireless, battery-powered footswitches that provide distinct sensations for different surgical modes without the need for large actuators, enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one actuator may be actuatable to displace the haptic surface relative to the treadle base in a manner providing haptic feedback to the health care provider
Implementation Method 2
The at least one suspension element may couple the treadle base and the haptic surface a distance apart from each other, wherein movement of the suspension element in a first direction moves the haptic surface in the first direction
Implementation Method 3
The sensor may be configured to sense the rotational position of the treadle relative to the body and convey data representative of the position of the treadle
Data Source
AI summary
A haptic footswitch treadle for use in microsurgical systems is disclosed. The haptic footswitch treadle includes a haptic surface coupled to a pivotable treadle base and configured to convey vibratory haptic feedback to a surgeon. The haptic footswitch includes a positional sensor coupled to the treadle base and suspension elements and actuators positioned between the haptic surface and the treadle base. The actuators are configured to move the suspension elements and the haptic surface based on command signals generated by haptic software applications in response to data from the positional sensor.