Wireless Foot Control Console for Medical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The presence of multiple foot controls for medical devices in an operating room leads to confusion and safety hazards due to tangled cables, which can cause tripping and increase the risk of electrical shock.
Innovation Solution
A wireless foot control console that allows a surgeon to control multiple medical devices using a single console with foot-operated pedals and switches, transmitting signals wirelessly to a receiver unit, which selects and controls the devices, reducing the need for multiple cables and improving safety by eliminating direct electrical contacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate foot controls are used for each medical device, then each device can be controlled independently, but the operating room becomes cluttered with tangled cables and multiple controls causing confusion and safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate foot controls into a single integrated foot control console that can control multiple medical devices. The console includes multiple foot-operated controls (pedals, switches) that can be operated simultaneously or sequentially to control different devices such as an endoscope, insufflator, and electrocautery tool, eliminating the need for multiple separate control units and their associated cables.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot control console is designed as a universal control unit that can interface with and control multiple types of medical devices through a single system. The console provides multi-functional capability by allowing different foot controls to be mapped to different devices and functions, enabling one console to replace multiple device-specific controls while maintaining independent control of each device.
2Ease of operation
If multiple foot controls with cables are placed on the floor, then each device can be controlled, but the cables create tripping hazards and increase the risk of electrical shock
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful element (cables) from the control system by implementing wireless communication between the foot control console and the medical devices. The console communicates with devices via wireless protocols, eliminating the need for physical cable connections and thereby removing tripping hazards and electrical shock risks associated with multiple cables on the operating room floor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable-based control system with a wireless communication system. Instead of using physical cables to transmit control signals from foot controls to medical devices, the system uses wireless transmission (such as radio frequency communication) to convey commands, thereby eliminating the mechanical connection and associated safety hazards.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a single wireless foot control console is used to control multiple devices, then cable-related hazards are eliminated, but the system requires wireless communication infrastructure and signal coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central controller or coordinator unit that acts as an intermediary between the wireless foot control console and multiple medical devices. This mediator receives wireless commands from the console, identifies the target device and function, and relays appropriate signals to the corresponding devices. This intermediary layer simplifies the wireless communication architecture by centralizing signal routing and device management, reducing the overall system complexity despite the wireless infrastructure requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for remotely controlling multiple medical devices. Included in the system are at least a first medical device and a second medical device, each of which are capable of performing one or more functions. Also included is a remote control unit having at least a first switch and a second switch. Connected to each of the medical devices is a controller that can simultaneously dispatch one or more device command signals to each of the medical devices in response to receiving one or more remote command signals from the remote control unit, thereby allowing a user to remotely and simultaneously control one or more functions associated with each of the medical devices.