Inductive Foot Pedal Charging for Continuous Surgical Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless foot controllers in ophthalmic surgical systems require frequent physical charging, which reduces their operational time and poses safety risks to medical personnel due to the need for cable connections during charging.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system with a wireless foot controller that uses inductive coupling for charging, allowing continuous operation and incorporating a charging apparatus in the form of a floor mat to support the foot controller, enabling both power transmission and data communication via inductive links, with a redundant communication link through a cable to ensure safety and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical cable connection is used for charging the wireless foot controller, then the foot controller can be charged, but safety risks to medical personnel increase and operational time is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with an inductive charging system using electromagnetic fields. The charging apparatus generates an oscillating magnetic field that inductively couples with a coil in the foot controller, enabling wireless power transfer without physical contact, thus eliminating safety risks associated with cable connections during surgical procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an inductive coupling field as an intermediary between the charging apparatus and the foot controller. This electromagnetic intermediary enables energy transfer without direct physical connection, allowing the foot controller to be charged while remaining operational and eliminating the need for cable connections that compromise safety and operational continuity
2Use of energy by moving object
If the foot controller is physically connected to the console for charging, then power can be transmitted, but the foot controller cannot operate during charging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous operation of the foot controller during charging by using inductive coupling. The electromagnetic field allows simultaneous power reception and operational use without interruption, maintaining continuous useful action throughout the charging process rather than requiring the controller to be non-operational during cable-based charging
3Ease of operation
If inductive coupling is used for charging, then wireless charging is achieved and safety is improved, but additional apparatus is required
Solution Approach 1:
The charging apparatus is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides inductive charging to the foot controller, can be positioned as a floor mat for foot support, and includes positioning features to guide proper placement. This multi-functionality reduces the perceived complexity by making the additional apparatus versatile rather than dedicated solely to charging
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 allows for continuous charging of the wireless foot controller, increasing its operational time and reducing safety hazards by eliminating the need for physical cable connections, while enabling high torque and current motor usage for fluidics resistance feedback.
Implementation Method 1
a charging apparatus coupled to the surgical console and adapted to wirelessly charge the foot controller
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical system for wirelessly charging a foot controller is described. The surgical system includes a surgical console. The surgical system also includes a foot controller wirelessly coupled to the surgical console and adapted to control one or more operations of the surgical console. The surgical system further includes a charging apparatus coupled to the surgical console and adapted to wirelessly charge the foot controller.