Medical Remote Control with Single Button for Sterile Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical remote control systems for surgical instruments are cumbersome, require surgeons to interrupt surgery for manual input, and lack robustness due to voice control limitations and ergonomic compromises, making them impractical for sterile environments.
Innovation Solution
A compact, flexible medical remote control with a single actuating button and wireless communication interface, allowing haptic control of medical instruments or devices via standardized control signals, which can be positioned anywhere in the sterile field and adapted for various surgical tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If voice control is used for remote operation, then hands are freed for surgical tasks, but control reliability deteriorates due to recognition errors from masks, background noise, or unintentional statements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces acoustic/voice-based control with a haptic mechanical button interface. The button detects pressure through a pressure sensor, converting mechanical force into electrical signals for control commands. This eliminates the reliability issues of voice recognition while maintaining hands-free operation capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple physical keys are integrated into surgical instruments for various functions, then control versatility is improved, but device complexity and ergonomic compromises increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal remote control unit with a single button that can control multiple different surgical instruments and devices through wireless communication. The same button performs multiple functions by communicating with different devices, eliminating the need for instrument-specific controls and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote control unit acts as an intermediary between the surgeon and multiple surgical devices. Instead of integrating controls directly into each instrument, the remote serves as a central interface that communicates with various devices wirelessly, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Measurement precision
If remote control keys or touch display are used from a separate station, then control precision is maintained, but surgical workflow is interrupted when switching attention between field and control interface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the control interface from a separate distant location (monitor stand) to the surgical field itself, placing the remote control within arm's reach of the surgical site. This spatial repositioning allows the surgeon to access controls without turning away from the surgical field, eliminating the time loss associated with switching attention.
4Ease of operation
If conventional remote controls are used in sterile environments, then control functionality is provided, but sterilization capability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable, single-use remote controls that are pre-sterilized and discarded after each surgical procedure. This eliminates the need for complex sterilization processes for reusable controls, as the disposable unit is sterilized once and then discarded, simplifying the manufacturing and logistical requirements while maintaining sterile environment compliance.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical remote control for wirelessly controlling a medical instrument or device includes a housing having a fastening portion to be fastened to an object, in particular the medical, digitally controllable instrument or device; an actuating button located in or on the housing, in particular exactly one single actuating button, for generating an input signal by manual actuation of the actuating button; a wireless data interface for establishing a wireless data connection to an external data interface, in particular a data interface of the medical instrument or device, and for transmitting data; and a control unit for processing the input signal of the actuating button and determining an associated control signal based on the input signal and to transmit the control signal via the data interface. The medical remote control can be used with or in a control system, a control method, and a computer-readable storage medium.