Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02531247 2005-12-21
1342P16CA01
SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING TWO OR MORE MEDICAL DEVICES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a system for controlling medical devices and, more
particularly, a system for controlling multiple medical devices remotely.
BACKGROUND
Endoscopy is a technology that allows minimally-invasive viewing of internal
features of a body. In medicine, endoscopy allows acquisition of high-quality
images of
internal features of a human body without the need for invasive surgery. The
basic tool
of endoscopy is the endoscope ("scope"), which is inserted into the body to be
viewed.
Some endoscopic procedures involve the use of a flexible scope, as in the
medical field
of gastroenterology, for example. Other medical procedures, such as
arthroscopy or
laproscopy, use a rigid scope. The scope is normally coupled to a high-
intensity light
source that transmits light into the body through the scope, and to a camera
head that
includes electronics for acquiring video image data. The camera head is
typically
coupled to a video monitor, which displays video images acquired by the
camera.
In endoscopic surgery, various other medical devices may be used, such as an
insufflator to pump pressurized gas into body cavities to create more space
for viewing
and working, an electrocautery tool to stop bleeding, and/or various tools to
cut or
shape body tissues. These devices are typically controlled by foot pedals
and/or
switches placed on the floor of the operating room, which are operated by the
surgeon.
The foot controls may control functions such as on/off, speed or intensity,
direction of
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movement of the tool, mode of operation, etc. The use of foot controls, rather
than
hand-operated controls, allows the surgeon to adjust various modes and
settings of the
tools (e.g., speed, intensity) himself, without having to put a tool down,
change hands,
touch potentially contaminated surfaces with his hands, or take his eyes off
the patient.
In the known prior art, foot-operated medical devices such as those mentioned
above each have their own separate, dedicated foot controls, resulting in the
presence
of multiple foot controls in the operating room. The presence of multiple foot
controls in
the operating room can result in confusion about which foot control operates a
particular device. Furthermore, the cables that connect the foot controls to
their
respective devices can create a safety hazard and a nuisance, since operating
room
personnel may trip over them and the cables may become tangled.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system
for
controlling multiple medical devices by remote control, comprising: a
plurality of medical
devices for use in a surgical suite, each said medical device being capable of
performing one or more functions; a remote control unit for selecting and
controlling a
plurality of medical devices and having a plurality of switches to provide
wireless remote
command signals for selectively changing the one or more of said plurality of
medical
devices capable of operation and for actuating and controlling one or more of
said
functions associated with the selected one or more of said medical devices
including a
first said selected medical device; and a controller that connects to said
plurality of
medical devices and which, in response to receiving one or more wireless
remote
command signals from said remote control unit, simultaneously dispatches one
or more
appropriately formatted device command signals to the first selected medical
device
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and a second selected said medical device so as to simultaneously actuate and
control
said one or more functions associated with each of the first medical device
and the
second medical device, wherein said controller maps a first one of said
switches and a
second one of said switches of said remote control unit onto said one or more
functions
associated with said first medical device, as well as onto said one or more
functions
associated with said second medical device, thereby allowing a user to
remotely and
simultaneously control said one or more functions of said first medical device
and said
one or more functions of said second medical device through manipulation of
one of
said first switch and said second switch.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
system
for controlling multiple medical devices by remote control, comprising: a
plurality of
medical devices for use in a surgical suite, each said medical device being
capable of
performing one or more functions; a remote control unit for selecting and
controlling a
plurality of medical devices and having a plurality of switches to provide
wireless remote
command signals for selectively changing the one or more of said plurality of
medical
devices capable of operation and for actuating and controlling one or more of
said
functions associated with the selected one or more of said medical devices
including a
first said selected medical device; and a controller that connects to said
plurality of
medical devices and which, in response to receiving one or more wireless
remote
command signals from said remote control unit, simultaneously dispatches one
or more
appropriately formatted device command signals to the first selected medical
device
and a second selected said medical device so as to simultaneously actuate and
control
said one or more functions associated with each of the first medical device
and the
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second medical device, wherein after selectively changing the medical device
to be
controlled to the first medical device: said controller maps a first one of
said switches of
said remote control unit onto one or more of said functions associated with
said first
medical device, thereby allowing a user to remotely actuate and control said
one or
more functions of said first medical device through manipulation of said first
switch; and
wherein said controller maps a second one of said switches of said remote
control unit
onto one or more functions associated with said second medical device, thereby
allowing the user to remotely actuate and control said one or more functions
of said
second medical device through manipulation of said second switch.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
system for controlling multiple medical devices by remote control, comprising:
a plurality
of medical devices for use in a surgical suite, each said medical device being
capable
of performing one or more functions; a remote control unit for selecting and
controlling a
plurality of medical devices and having a plurality of switches to provide
wireless remote
command signals for selectively changing the one or more of said plurality of
medical
devices capable of operation and for actuating and controlling one or more of
said
functions associated with the selected one or more of said medical devices
including a
first said selected medical device; and a controller that connects to said
plurality of
medical devices and which, in response to receiving one or more wireless
remote
command signals from said remote control unit, simultaneously dispatches one
or more
appropriately formatted device command signals to the first selected medical
device
and a second selected said medical device so as to simultaneously actuate and
control
said one or more functions associated with each of the first medical device
and the
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second medical device, wherein said remote control unit includes a receiver
for
receiving data from the controller to modify various parameters and is
configured to be
operated by either a user's foot or a user's hand.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system
for
controlling multiple medical devices by remote control, comprising: a
plurality of medical
devices for use in a surgical suite, each said medical device being capable of
performing one or more functions; a remote control unit for selecting and
controlling a
plurality of medical devices and having a plurality of switches to provide
wireless remote
command signals for selectively changing the one or more of said plurality of
medical
devices capable of operation and for actuating and controlling one or more of
said
functions associated with the selected one or more of said medical devices
including a
first said selected medical device; and a controller that connects to said
plurality of
medical devices and which, in response to receiving one or more wireless
remote
command signals from said remote control unit, simultaneously dispatches one
or more
appropriately formatted device command signals to the first selected medical
device
and a second selected said medical device so as to simultaneously actuate and
control
said one or more functions associated with each of the first medical device
and the
second medical device, wherein said controller automatically identifies said
first medical
device and said second medical device without user input, and without user
input maps
at least one of said switches to at least one of said functions associated
with one of
said automatically identified first medical device and said automatically
identified
second medical device, and wherein said controller prompts a user to select a
specific
function associated with one of said first medical device and said second
medical
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device which will subsequently be mapped to one of said switches.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
system
for controlling multiple medical devices by remote control, comprising:
medical devices
for use in a surgical suite and capable of performing one or more functions; a
wireless
remote control unit having at least a first switch and at least a first pedal,
which when a
predetermined one of said switch and said pedal is activated, issues one or
more
wireless remote command signals for actuating and controlling one or more of
said
functions associated with one or more of said medical devices; and a
controller that
connects to combinations of said medical devices and which, in response to
receiving
one or more wireless remote command signals from said remote control unit,
dispatches one or more appropriately formatted device command signals to at
least one
of said medical devices so as to control said one or more functions associated
with at
least one of said medical devices, wherein said controller connected to said
medical
devices is pre-programmed to recognize combinations of said identified medical
devices connected thereto without user input and to automatically modify
without user
input a default mapping scheme for at least the first switch and at least the
first pedal of
the remote control unit to another configuration that corresponds to the
recognized
combination of identified medical devices connected thereto.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
system
for controlling multiple medical devices by remote control, comprising: a
plurality of
medical devices for use in a surgical suite, each said medical device being
capable of
performing one or more functions; a wireless remote control console including
a
plurality of switches or pedals, a first one of said plurality of said
switches or said pedals
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being configured to provide wireless signals for selectively changing the at
least one of
said medical devices selected for operation, a second one of said at least two
of said
switches or said pedals being configured to select one or more functions of
the at least
one selected medical device, and said switches or said pedals configured to
provide
wireless remote command signals that actuate and control one or more of said
functions associated with the at least one selected medical device; and a
controller that
connects to said plurality of medical devices and which, in response to
receiving one or
more wireless remote command signals from said remote control console,
simultaneously dispatches one or more device command signals to the at least
one
selected medical device and to a second said medical device so as to actuate
and
control said one or more selected functions associated with the at least one
medical
device and the second medical device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One or more embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of
example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in
which like
references indicate similar elements and in which:
Figure 1 is a block diagram of a medical endoscopy system including a wireless
foot control apparatus according to certain embodiments of the invention;
Figure 2 shows an exterior view of the foot control console according to
certain
embodiments of the invention;
Figure 3 shows the wireless foot control console and a docking station into
which
the console can be placed to recharge a battery in the wireless foot control
apparatus;
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Figure 4 shows how the docking station and the receiver unit can be placed or
mounted on an equipment cart;
Figure 5 is a block diagram of the console according to certain embodiments of
the invention;
Figure 6 shows the charging circuit in the console according to certain
embodiments of the invention;
Figure 7A is a block diagram of the receiver unit, according to certain
embodiments of the invention;
Figure 7B shows a docking station that has a retractable charging unit;
Figure 8A shows a console with a removable handle containing batteries to
power the console;
Figure 8B shows the bottom of the console with a removable battery inserted
therein;
Figure 9 shows the removable battery and a charger unit into which the battery
can be inserted for recharging;
Figure 10 shows the battery of Figure 9 inserted into the charging unit;
Figure 11 shows a coiled suction hose;
Figure 12 shows how the suction hose can be attached to the console; and
Figure 13 shows the console contained within a protective cover.
Figure 14 is a block diagram of a medical endoscopy system according to an
additional embodiment of the invention, and includes a central controller that
connects
to and monitors one or more medical devices that can be found in a surgical
suite.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A wireless foot control apparatus to allow an operator to control multiple
medical
devices during a medical procedure is described. Note that in this
description,
references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" mean that the feature being
referred to is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention.
Further,
separate references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" in this description
do not
necessarily refer to the same embodiment; however, such embodiments are also
not
mutually exclusive unless so stated, and except as will be readily apparent to
those
skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure,
act, etc.
described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments. Thus,
the
present invention can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of
the
embodiments described herein.
As described in greater detail below, a single wireless foot control console
in
accordance with the invention allows a surgeon or other operator to control
multiple
medical devices during an endoscopic medical procedure. The console comprises
multiple controls designed for operation by an operator's foot to control the
medical
devices, including one or more foot pedals and/or foot switches to control the
devices,
including a selection switch to allow selection of the device to be
controlled. In
response to operation of the foot controls, the console transmits signals
wirelessly to a
receiver unit, which causes the receiver unit to select a device to be
controlled and to
control the selected device. The foot control console may include a
rechargeable
battery, which may be sealed within the console's housing and charged
inductively
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when the console is placed in a docking station. The receiver unit and the
docking
station can be separate units or they can be integrated within a single
housing.
Figure 1 shows a medical endoscopy system that includes a wireless foot
control
apparatus according to the invention. The system includes an endoscope 1 and a
camera 2 coupled to the endoscope 1 and to a camera control unit (CCU) 3. Also
coupled to the CCU 3 is a video monitor 4 to display images acquired by the
camera 2.
The system also includes a number of different supporting devices 5 (e.g., 5A,
5B, etc.),
which may include, for example, an insufflator, an electrocautery tool, a
radio frequency
(RF) generator, a cutter/shaver tool, and/or other devices. One or more of
these
supporting devices 5 may be connected to each other by a common wired
communication medium 6, as are device 5A and the CCU 3. The wired
communication
medium 6 may be, for example, an IEEE* standard 1394 backplane connection, an
Ethernet connection, or other communication medium with similar capability.
Also connected to the wired communication medium 6 is a receiver unit 8, which
is an element of a wireless foot control apparatus 7 in accordance with the
invention.
The other elements of the wireless foot control apparatus 7 are a foot-
operated control
console 9 and a docking station 10. The console 9 and receiver unit 8
cooperate to
allow the operator to control any of the devices 5. Specifically, the console
9 includes
various foot operated pedals, switches and/or other foot-operated controls
which, when
actuated by the operator, cause the console 9 to transmit control signals
wirelessly to
the receiver unit 8. In response to control signals received from the console
9, the
receiver unit 8 communicates with the currently selected one of the various
devices 5.
This communication may occur over the wired communication medium 6, as would
be
* Trademark
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the case with device 5A. However, one or more of the controlled devices 5
might not
be connected to the wired communication medium 6, such as device 5B. Such
devices
may instead have a direct connection 78 (which may be analog or digital) to
the
receiver unit 8. The direct connection 78 may emulate the inputs of a device-
specific
5 footswitch to the device 5. Furthermore, one or more controlled devices 5
might
communicate with the receiver unit 8 only via a wireless link.
In some embodiments, a receiver may be built into the controlled device 5
itself,
such that a dedicated receiver unit 8 and any wired connections between the
receiver
and the device would be unnecessary.
In the illustrated embodiment, the docking station 10 is used to charge a
rechargeable battery (not shown) within the console 9. The docking station 10
includes
a receptacle 11 designed to accommodate the console 9 and includes a power
supply
and circuitry (not shown) used to charge the battery in the console 9. The
docking
station 10 can be conveniently placed or mounted on an equipment cart, a
table, the
operating room floor, or a wall.
In alternative embodiments, the receiver unit 8 can be contained within the
docking station 10. Also, in alternative embodiments, the battery can be
removed from
the console 9 and placed in its own dedicated charger for recharging, such
that no
docking station 10 is required, as described further below. Also, in
alternative
embodiments, the battery could be a standard alkaline battery and require no
charging
station at all, but simply be replaced in the console as needed.
Figure 2 shows an exterior view of the console 9 according to certain
embodiments of the invention. The console 9 is relatively light in weight and
includes a
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handle 21 that allows the console 9 to be conveniently picked up and carried
by
operating room staff. As shown, the console 9 includes a left and right pedals
22 and
23, respectively, as well as three foot operated switches, i.e., a left switch
24, a middle
switch 25, and a right switch 26. Other embodiments may include a different
combination of pedals, switches, and/or other controls. The switches 24-26 may
be, for
example, simple pushbutton switches and may be used, for example, to select
different
modes of operation of the various devices 5. The pedals 22 and 23 may be
simple
potentiometer-type (variable displacement) foot controls, such as for use in
controlling
the speed, intensity, and/or other variable settings of a medical tool.
In certain embodiments, the console 9, while capable of controlling any of the
devices 5, controls only one of the devices 5 at a time. In such embodiments,
one of
the switches 24-26 is used as a selection switch to allow the operator to
select the
device 5 to be controlled. The function of each of the other controls can vary
depending upon which device 5 is currently selected to be controlled. The
selection
can be accomplished by simply pressing the designated selection switch
repeatedly to
cycle between the different available devices 5.
In other embodiments, the console 9 is capable of controlling two or more
devices 5 simultaneously. For example, two or more separate switches and/or
pedals
can be used to control two or more separate devices 5 at the same time. Or,
the same
control on the console 9 might be used to control two or more devices.
The receiver 8 will detect which devices are present or connected to the wired
communication medium 6 and/or the direct connection 78. Therefore, the console
9
does not need to have any knowledge of which device 5 is currently selected --
such
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knowledge can be maintained entirely within the receiver unit 8. The console 9
simply
transmits generic control signals, which the receiver unit 8 translates the
control signals
into other control signals in the appropriate format and protocol for the
currently
selected device 5. In some embodiments, the receiver 8 can receive input from
multiple consoles 9 simultaneously and output the corresponding control signal
to either
one or multiple devices, depending on if the multiple consoles are controlling
the same
device or multiple devices.
As discussed above, in certain embodiments the console 9 has its own internal
power supply, which may be a rechargeable battery (or multiple batteries)
sealed within
the housing 27 of the console 9. In such embodiments, the housing 27 can be
made of
molded plastic or other similar material, making the console 9 lightweight,
durable,
soakable, and easy to clean. This approach is desirable because, among other
reasons, it is common during certain endoscopic surgical procedures for
considerable
amounts of water and/or other fluids to be spilled onto the floor of the
operating room.
A sealed console housing is advantageous, therefore, since there is no need
for
electrical contacts that are directly exposed to this operating room
environment. In
addition, the use of a rechargeable internal battery reduces the number of
electrical
cables needed in the operating room.
To charge the internal battery, the console 9 is placed into the docking
station
10, where the battery is charged by electromagnetic induction. The docking
station 10
also serves as a convenient holder for the console 9 when the console 9 is not
in use.
Figure 3 shows how the console 9 is inserted into the docking station 10 for
charging of
the console's battery and/or for storage. Figure 4 shows how a docking station
10 can
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be placed or mounted on an equipment cart 41 of the type typically used for
endoscopic
equipment.
Figure 5 shows the components of a console 9, according to certain
embodiments of the invention. As illustrated, the console 9 includes a
conventional
programmable microcontroller 51. The console 9 also includes a relatively
short-range
radio frequency (RF) transmitter 52 and a charging circuit 53, each coupled to
the
microcontroller 51. The console 9 further includes at least one rechargeable
battery 54
and an induction coil 55 coupled to the charging circuit 53. The internal
components of
the console 9 (i.e., other than the switches and pedals) are completely sealed
within the
housing of the console 9, which protects those components from damage from the
operating room environment and reduces the risk of electrical shock and
sparks.
The microcontroller 51 is primarily responsible for identifying the source of
each
particular user input (i.e., which specific switch or pedal) but may also
perform various
other control functions such as described herein. The microcontroller 51 may,
in other
embodiments, be replaced by one or more other forms of control device capable
of
performing the same role, such as a programmable general-purpose or special-
purpose
microprocessor, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. (i.e.,
from which
switch or pedal).
The microcontroller 51 can communicate with the RF transmitter 52 through a
standard RS-232 interface, for example. The RF transmitter 52 transmits
control
signals to the receiver unit 8, under the control of the microcontroller 51,
in response to
user inputs applied at the foot operated controls (switches and pedals). The
RF
transmitter 52 may be, for example, a conventional Bluetooth* transmitter. In
other
* Trademark
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embodiments, the RF transmitter 52 may operate in accordance with any one or
more
wireless communication standards, such as wireless Ethernet, IEEE* standards
802.11 a, 802.11 b and 802.11 g, 802.12 and 802.16. Furthermore, in other
embodiments, the console 9 can communicate with the receiver unit 8 using a
form of
wireless communication other than RF, such as infrared (IR), laser, etc.
In alternative embodiments, each control on the console 9 may have its own RF
transmitter in the console 9, to communicate with the receiver unit 8, such
that no
central microcontroller is needed to identify the source of each user input.
The console 9 may also include an RF receiver 57 coupled to the
microcontroller
51, which can be used to receive data from the receiver unit 8 or another
device for
various purposes, such as modifying various parameters or settings of the
console 9.
The receiver 57 may be, for example, a conventional Bluetooth* receiver. Note
that the
RF receiver 57 and transmitter 52 may be combined in a single transceiver.
The induction coil 55 and charging circuit 53 are used to recharge the battery
54
while the console 9 is situated in the docking station 10 (while the docking
station 10 is
powered). The battery 54 may be, for example, a NiMH or Li+ battery. The
charging
circuit 53 controls charging of the battery 54 using power induced in the
secondary
induction coil 55 by a corresponding primary induction coil 56 within the
docking station
10. The console 9 and docking station 10 are designed so that the induction
coil 55 in
the console 9 and the induction coil 56 in the docking station 10 are
positioned in close
proximity to each other when the console 9 is placed in the docking station
10, although
they are separated by the housings of the console 9 and the docking station
10. As
shown, the docking station 10 can include simply a regulated power supply 76
coupled
* Trademark
CA 02531247 2005-12-21
to the primary induction coil 56, both contained within a housing that has a
receptacle
11 (Figures 1 and 3) shaped to accommodate the console 9 as described above.
Figure 6 shows the charging circuit 55 in greater detail. As shown, the
charging
circuit 53 includes a rectifier 61 coupled to the terminals of the secondary
induction coil
55, and a battery supervisory circuit / DC-DC converter 62. The battery 54 is
coupled to
the secondary induction coil 55 via the rectifier 61 and the battery
supervisory circuit /
DC-DC converter 62. The battery supervisory circuit DC-DC converter 62
receives from
the microcontroller 51 an input voltage VTH, When the input voltage VTH is
present and
the console 9 is docked within the docking station 10, the battery supervisory
circuit DC-
DC converter 62 charges the battery. When not docked, the battery supervisory
circuit
DC-DC converter 62 provides regulated power PWR to the microcontroller 51.
Circuits
and techniques for charging a rechargeable power supply inductively are
further
described in various sources, such as in U.S. Patent No. 6,040,680 of Toya et
at.
Figure 7A is a block diagram of the receiver unit 8, according to certain
embodiments of the invention. As shown, the receiver unit 8 includes a
programmable
microcontroller 71, a wireless receiver 72, a power supply 73, a network
adapter 74,
and one or more output indicators 75. The microcontroller 71 controls the
overall
operation of the receiver unit 8. The microcontroller 71 may, in other
embodiments, be
replaced by one or more other forms of control device capable of performing
the same
role, such as a programmable general-purpose or special-purpose
microprocessor,
ASIC, etc. The wireless receiver 72 receives control signals transmitted from
the
console 9 as described above. The microcontroller 71 may communicate with the
RF
transmitter 72 through a standard RS-232 interface, for example. The power
supply 73
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provides regulated power for the receiver unit 8, based on power supplied from
any
available external power source.
The output indicator(s) 75 are used to communicate various information to the
user, including to indicate which device 5 (Figure 1) is currently selected.
The output
indicator(s) 75 may include, for example, one or more light-emitting diodes
(LEDs),
liquid crystal displays (LCDs), audio speakers, or the like.
Depending upon which of the devices 5 is currently selected, the
microcontroller
71 uses the control signals received by the wireless receiver 72 to generate
commands
and/or other control signals directed to a particular device 5 on the wired
communication medium 6. The microcontroller 71 is programmed to generate
specific
commands or other control signals in a format and/or protocol that is
appropriate for the
currently selected device 5. The microcontroller 71 causes the network adapter
74 to
transmit these generated commands onto the wired communication medium 6.
The network adapter 74 may be, for example, a standard IEEE* standard 1394
adapter, for example, where the wired communication medium 6 is an IEEE* 1394
backplane. In that case, the receiver unit 8 can use standard IEEE* 1394
protocols to
identify the other devices that are connected to the backplane. In still other
embodiments, a communication medium other than an IEEE 1394 backplane may be
used.
In certain embodiments, the receiver unit 8 also (or instead) can have one or
more "direct" (i.e., non-network) connections 78 to a controlled device 5, as
mentioned
above and as shown in Figure 1. In such embodiments, the receiver unit 8
includes a
communication adapter 70 to couple the microcontroller 71 to the direct
connection 78.
* Trademark
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In certain instances, a direct connection 78 may be implemented as a
connection
between the receiver unit 9 and a device 5 with no other devices or adapters
coupled
between them, while in other cases, a direct connection 78 may be implemented
by
connecting the receiver unit 9 to a device 5 through a separate, external
adapter
("dongle") that emulates the network connection for the receiver unit 8.
The receiver unit 8 may also include an RF transmitter 77, to transmit data to
the
console 9 as described above. Note that the RF receiver 72 and transmitter 77
may be
combined in a single transceiver.
In the embodiments described above, the receiver unit 8 and the docking
station
10 are separate, stand-alone units. In alternative embodiments, however, the
receiver
unit 8 may be integrated within the housing of the docking station 10. In such
embodiments, the internal elements of such a combined unit are essentially the
combination of the elements of the docking station 10, such as shown in Figure
5, and
the elements of the receiver unit 8, such as shown in Figure 7A. Also, as
mentioned
above, the receiver unit 8 could be replaced by a receiver internal to the
device 5 to be
controlled.
The docking station 10 (or a combined receiver unit / docking station) may
include a retractable charging unit 79, as shown in Figure 7B. The retractable
charging
unit 79 allows the console 9 to be powered from the docking station 10, rather
than
from the console's own internal battery 54. This approach allows the console 9
to
operate in the event of a battery failure and also allows the battery 54 in
the console 9
to be charged from the docking station 10 while the console 9 is in use. The
retractable
charging unit 79 is removably attached to the rest of the docking station 10
through a
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retractable extension cord 80 (e.g., under spring-loaded tension). In this
embodiment,
the detachable charging unit 79 comprises a receptacle 11 such as described
above to
physically receive the console 9 and also contains the primary-side induction
coil 56
(Figure 5) or other equivalent charging elements.
The extension cord 80 extends out of, and retracts into, the docking station
10
under spring-loaded tension. When the cord 80 is fully retracted, the
retractable
charging unit 79 fits into and attaches to the rest of the docking station 10.
The
charging unit 79 can operate in either the fully retracted position or in any
position of
extension, within the limits of the extension cord 80. The extension cord 80
can also be
used to transport the above-described control signals between the console 9
and the
docking station 10.
In a given clinical environment, multiple pairs of consoles 9 and receiver
units 8
may be used in close proximity to each other. This gives rise to the risk of a
receiver
unit 8 responding to control signals from the wrong console 9. To prevent this
from
occurring, each console 9 can be assigned a unique, modifiable device
identifier. Each
receiver unit 8 can be configured to respond to (i.e., can be "synchronized"
with) one or
more specific consoles 9, based on their device identifiers. During operation,
when a
console 9 transmits signals representing user inputs, it transmits its
preassigned device
identifier with those signals. The receiver unit 8 ignores any signals that
are not
accompanied by the correct device identifier (e.g., signals from an unknown or
unauthorized console 9).
The identifier may be assigned by appropriately programming the
microcontroller
51 in the console 9. In an embodiment in which the console 9 communicates with
the
14
CA 02531247 2005-12-21
receiver unit 8 using Bluetooth*, for example, the device identifier may be
the console's
standard Bluetooth* ID. Furthermore, the programmability of the
microcontroller 51 in
the console 9 enables modification of the device identifier of any given
console 9, when
desired. Consequently, a faulty console 9 can be easily replaced with another
similar
unit simply by reprogramming the device identifier of the replacement unit
with that of
the faulty unit.
In an embodiment in which Bluetooth* is used for communication between the
console 9 and the receiver unit 8, the receiver unit 8 may operate in a "non-
discoverable" mode. Therefore, in order to synchronize a receiver unit 8 with
a specific
console 9 (i.e., to allow the receiver unit 8 to discover the identifier of
the console 9),
any of various approaches can be used. One approach is to push two of the
switches
(24, 25, 26) on the console 9 simultaneously, triggering the console 9 to
transmit its
identifier, coupled with a push of a "sync" button on the receiver unit 8.
Another
approach is to include an RF identifier coil or proximity sensor in both the
receiver unit 8
and the console 9, using which the two devices can be triggered to synchronize
by
bringing them within close proximity of each other.
In certain embodiments, as discussed above, the console 9 is powered by one or
more internal rechargeable batteries or battery pack sealed inside the housing
of the
console 9. For example, the battery may be sealed within the housing by a
gasketed
battery compartment that is externally accessible for purposes of battery
service and
replacement. This approach is advantageous for a variety of reasons discussed
above.
In one such embodiment, illustrated in Figure 8A, the one or more batteries 82
are
sealed within the handle 21, which can be removed from the console 9 and
opened up
* Trademark 15
CA 02531247 2005-12-21
into sections 21A and 21 B to allow easy service and replacement of batteries
82. In this
embodiment, the handle 21 is essentially a removable battery pack.
In alternative embodiments, however, the battery is not sealed within the
housing
and can be removed from the console 9 and placed in a dedicated battery
charger unit
for recharging. In such embodiments, no docking station 10 is required. Figure
8B
illustrates such an embodiment.
Specifically, Figure 8B shows the console 9, where a removable rechargeable
battery pack 81 is inserted into a corresponding receptacle in the bottom of
the console
9, to power the console 9. The battery pack 81 can be removed and placed in
its own
dedicated charger unit 91 for charging, as shown in Figures 9 and 10. Figure 9
shows
the removable battery pack 81 and a charger unit 91 into which the battery
pack can be
inserted for charging. Figure 10 shows the battery pack 81 inserted into the
charger
unit 91.
In certain embodiments represented by Figures 8 through 10, the battery pack
81 itself is sealed and includes both a rechargeable battery and an inductive
charging/discharging circuit. The inductive charging/discharging circuit in
the battery
pack allows the charger unit 91 to inductively charge the battery in the
battery pack 81
when the battery pack 81 is in the charger unit 91 and, likewise, allows the
battery to
inductively power the console 9 when the battery pack 81 is installed in the
console 9.
This approach eliminates the need for electrical contacts to couple the
battery pack 81
to the console 9 or the charger unit 91, which is advantageous in an operating
environment where exposed electrical contacts are undesirable (due to the risk
of
16
CA 02531247 2005-12-21
electrical shock, sparks, etc.). In other embodiments represented by Figures 8
through
10, standard electrical contacts are used to charge and discharge the battery.
With certain endoscopic surgical procedures, it is common for significant
amounts of water and/or other fluid to accumulate on the floor of the
operating room. It
is common during such procedures for operating room staff to place a suction
hose on
the floor of the operating room to remove the accumulated fluid. Therefore,
the console
9 includes, in certain embodiments, a convenient attachment for a suction
hose, which
facilitates removal of fluids during surgical procedures. The suction hose 111
in such
embodiments is permanently coiled except at its ends, as shown in Figure 11,
and
includes multiple intake holes distributed along its length, to draw fluid
into the hose
under suction. The coiled suction hose 111 is attached to the bottom of the
housing of
the console 9 by clips 121 (or other fastening devices), as shown in Figure
12, such that
the console 9 can rest on top of the suction hose 111 when in use. This
configuration
makes it easy for operating room staff to move the console 9 and the attached
suction
hose 111 around on the floor with their feet to places where fluid has
accumulated, in
order to remove the fluid.
Since the console 9 will be placed on the floor and potentially be exposed to
significant amounts of water and/or other fluid, in certain embodiments the
console 9
design will facilitate the attachment of a water-tight cover 121 over the
console 9 in
order to keep the console 9 dry, as shown in Figure 13. In such a way, the
console 9 is
protected and kept clean, thus eliminating the need for time consuming
cleaning steps
after a surgical procedure is complete.
17
CA 02531247 2005-12-21
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, a separate remote
control unit can be used to activate and control two or more medical devices
at the
same time. The present embodiment accomplishes this by means of a remote
control
system 200, one example of which is illustrated in Figure 14. Included within
the
remote control system 200 is a central controller 201 that either directly or
indirectly
communicates with one or more of the medical devices that one wishes to
control. The
general structure and operation of central controller 201 is similar to that
of receiver 8
as previously disclosed, and as such, will not be further discussed at this
time.
In the illustrated example of Figure 14, central controller 201 connects to
and
communicates with an irrigation pump 222 and an arthroscopy pump 224 by means
of
a direct connection 223. Additional medical devices, such as, for example, an
electrosurgical/cautery unit (ESU) 212, motor controller 213, radio frequency
ablation
generator 214, and camera control unit 216 as illustrated in Figure 14,
indirectly
connect to the central controller 201 over a common network BUS 202.
A remote control unit 203 subsequently communicates command signals to the
central controller 201, which, in turn, converts the command signals into the
appropriate
format for the device being controlled. Similar to the previous embodiments
discussed
above, the remote control unit can take the form of a wireless footswitch 203A
having
one or more buttons (204, 205) and/or pedals (not illustrated). Alternatively,
the remote
control unit can be a wireless handswitch device 203B having one or more
buttons
(207, 208) and/or other switching mechanisms (not illustrated). Lastly, the
remote
control unit, regardless of whether it be operated by hand or foot, may forego
wireless
communications altogether, and instead rely on more traditional methods to
18
CA 02531247 2005-12-21
communicate a signal to the central controller 201, such as, for example, by
means of
one or more direct wire connections between the wired remote control unit 203C
and
central controller 201.
In a manner similar to that described with respect to the previous
embodiments,
control console 201 will detect which devices are present or connected to the
control
console 201, regardless of whether they connect by means of a direct
connection 223
or indirect connection 202, such as a network BUS 202. Accordingly, the remote
control unit 203 need not have any knowledge of which medical device is
currently
selected, as this knowledge can be maintained entirely within the central
controller 201.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, two or more separate
medical devices can be controlled at the same time through activation of two
or more
separate buttons, pedals or other switching mechanisms located on one remote
control
unit 203. For example, a surgeon may need to activate an electrocautery to
cauterize
some tissue, while at the same time, irrigate the tissue with saline solution.
To
accomplish this using wireless footswitch 203A, button 204 is mapped to a
specific
function associated with the electrosurgical/cautery unit 212, while button
205 is
mapped to a specific function associated with the irrigation pump 222. As a
result,
depressing button 204 activates the electrosurgical/cautery unit 212, while
depressing
button 205 activates the irrigation pump 222. An advantage of this type of
arrangement, where separate buttons or switches on the same remote control
unit 203
are mapped to separate devices, is that each medical device can be
conveniently
controlled by the remote control unit 203 while still maintaining independent
operation
of each medical device. Consequently, the two devices (electrosurgical/cautery
unit
19
CA 02531247 2005-12-21
212 and irrigation pump 222) can be activated simultaneously or at different
or
alternating times.
Mapping of the buttons, pedals or other switching mechanisms located on a
remote control unit 203 to a particular function of a particular medical
device can be
accomplished in a variety of ways. According to one embodiment, the central
controller
201 is pre-programmed to recognize most, if not all, potential combinations of
medical
devices that can be connected to the central controller 201 and which can be
operated
by means of a remote control unit 203. Upon detecting the types of medical
devices
connected, the central controller 201 automatically modifies its default
button-mapping
scheme to another configuration which corresponds to the particular
combination of
medical devices currently connected.
Alternatively, the central controller 201 can be programmed to allow for an
operator to custom configure a particular button-mapping scheme. In this
alternative
embodiment, the central controller 201 detects the connected medical devices,
retrieves a predetermined list of corresponding functions that are commonly
controlled
by a remote control unit 203, and then prompts the user to depress a selected
button or
pedal of their choosing in order to associate that selected button/pedal with
the specific
medical device and associated function identified by the central controller
201.
If a medical device has a plurality of associated functions, the remote
control
system 200 can be further configured to not limit mapping of a button/pedal to
just one
or a few predetermined functions of that device, but instead prompt the user
to select
the specific device function they wish to remotely control. This can be
accomplished,
CA 02531247 2005-12-21
for instance, by displaying a list of available device functions and having
the user select
the specific function they wish to map.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, two or more medical
devices are mapped to the same button or pedal on the remote control unit 203.
More
specifically, two or more device functions, each of which is associated with
different
medical devices, are mapped to the same button/pedal. Consequently, this
single
button or pedal on remote control unit 203 will simultaneously control both
devices/functions. For example, depressing button 207 on wireless handswitch
203B
simultaneously activates the electrosurgical/cautery unit 212 and irrigation
pump 222.
Absent any additional mappings, neither medical device can be activated
without the
other.
In a slight variation to the previous embodiment, two or more medical
devices/functions are again mapped to the same button or pedal on a remote
control
unit 203. Yet, according to this embodiment, at least one of the medical
devices/functions is restricted to how or when it can operate based upon one
or more
rules or configurations preprogrammed in the central controller 201. For
illustrative
purposes, consider an example where the electrosurgical/cautery unit 212 and
irrigation
pump 222 are both connected to the central controller 201. Furthermore,
central
controller 201 has been configured so that button 210 on wired remote control
unit
203C is mapped to both devices 212 and 222 such that depressing button 210
would
normally activate both devices in a simultaneous manner. However, a surgeon
currently operating these devices by remote control demands that the
electrosurgical/cautery unit 212 never be applied unless saline solution has
been
21
CA 02531247 2005-12-21
previously applied to the tissue and continues to be applied to the tissue by
irrigation
pump 222. To satisfy the surgeon's requirement, central controller 201 is
programmed
to delay the activation of the electrosurgical/cautery unit 212 by one-half
second
whenever both electrosurgical/cautery unit 212 and irrigation pump 222 have
been
mapped to the same button/pedal. Consequently, whenever button 210 is
depressed,
irrigation unit 222 will always activate and run for one-half second before
the
electrosurgical/cautery unit 212 activates.
Although only a single example has been provided to illustrate the above-
embodiment, it should be appreciated that numerous other advantages can be
obtained
depending on the rules or configurations programmed in the central controller
201. For
even greater versatility, the remote control system 200 can be configured to
apply one
or more of these rules or configurations not only in response to the mapping
of a
specific combination of medical devices, but also in response to the presence
of
specific states or operating conditions in one or more of the mapped medical
devices.
Consider an example where two medical devices, A and B, have been mapped
by the central controller 201 to one or more specific buttons or pedals of a
remote
control unit 203. Device B is a tool for the cutting and shaping of body
tissue, and can
accept various types of cutting blades that serve different purposes. The
cutting tool
(device B) detects the installation of a different cutting blade, and
subsequently
reconfigures its device settings to accommodate the new cutting blade. This
reconfiguration or change of state in device B is subsequently projected out
upon the
network BUS 202. Central controller 201 monitors network BUS 202, and upon
detecting the change of state in medical device B, is able to implement one or
more
22
CA 02531247 2005-12-21
new sets of rules or configurations that better regulate remote operation of
mapped
devices A and B.
In the embodiments discussed above, two or more separate medical devices
become mapped to one or more specific buttons or pedals of a remote control
unit 203.
However, the present invention is not limited to the mapping and controlling
of multiple,
independent medical devices, but can also be used to map and remotely control
a
single, integrated medical device having multiple modalities, such as, for
example, a
single device having two or more generally separate or independent functions
and/or
operating states.
To further illustrate this embodiment of the invention, consider an example
where
an individual surgical tool possesses two operating modalities, including the
capability
to electrocauterize tissue, as well as the ability to manipulate tissue by
means of a burr
or cutter. In some instances, the tool is preferably operated in such a manner
that
electrocauterization occurs at the same time that tissue is being mechanically
cut. In
other instances, it is preferable to have the tool just do cauterization
without any
mechanical cutting of the tissue, or alternatively, just cut tissue without
any
cauterization.
Applicant's invention according to the present embodiment can readily control
a
multiple modality medical tool, such as the surgical tool described above, by
mapping a
first tool function, or set of functions, to a first button or set of buttons
on a remote
control unit 203. Any second tool function, or set of functions, is then
mapped to a
second button or set of buttons on the same remote control unit 203.
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CA 02531247 2005-12-21
For example, the electrocauterizing capabilities of the surgical tool
discussed
above can be mapped to either a first button or set of buttons on a remote
control unit
203, while the mechanical tissue cutting capabilities of the same tool can be
mapped to
a second, separate button or set of buttons on the same remote control unit
203. This
subsequently would allow the two separate capabilities of the surgical tool to
be
remotely operated independently of each other, while maintaining the ability
to operate
the dual-function tool in a simultaneous manner. Alternatively, both surgical
tool
functions can be mapped onto the same button or set of buttons, thereby
facilitating the
simultaneous operation of the two tool functions.
In all the embodiments discussed above, one or more medical devices is
remotely controlled by mapping one or more functions of each device to a
button, pedal
or other switching mechanism contained within a separate remote control unit
203, such
as a wireless footswitch 203A or wireless handswitch 203B. However, the
present
invention is not limited to remotely controlling a medical device by means of
a separate
or independent remote control unit 203. Instead, according to an additional
embodiment of the present invention, a first medical device can be remotely
operated
by means of a second medical device. As a result, two or more devices can be
operated in unison without the need of a separate remote control unit 203.
This additional embodiment of the invention is readily accomplished through
the
mapping capabilities of the central controller 201. More specifically, unlike
previous
embodiments of the invention, the central controller 201 in the current
embodiment is
programmed or configured so that one or more functions of a first medical
device is
24
CA 02531247 2012-06-14
mapped onto the one or more buttons or switches that are intrinsic to and make
up part
of a second medical device.
Consider, for example, a surgeon who wishes to make sure that all the tissue
cutting procedures that he conducts are captured by a video camera and
recorded on
video tape. According to an earlier embodiment of the invention, the surgeon
could
readily accomplish this goal by mapping the tissue cutter and the video camera
onto the
same button of a remote control unit 203. Then both functions would be
simultaneously
carried out whenever the mapped button of the remote control unit 203 is
depressed.
However, there may be instances where the surgeon wants or needs to control
the
tissue cutter directly, instead of through a remote control unit 203.
Consequently,
control of the two medical devices (tissue cutter and camera) becomes split
between
two separate physical devices. The current embodiment of the invention
overcomes
this problem by configuring the central controller 201 so that one or more
functions of
the video camera are mapped onto one or more buttons that make up part of the
tissue
cutter. As a result, depressing the "cutting" button on the tissue cutter not
only activates
the cutter, but also simultaneously activates the mapped video camera.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific
exemplary embodiments, other embodiments and modifications are possible.
Therefore,
the scope of the appended claims should not be limited by the preferred
embodiments
set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation
consistent with
the description as a whole.
