# US 11,998,180 B2 · System and method for activating a surgical instrument, and foot switch assembly for controlling a surgical instrument

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- Number: US 11,998,180 B2
- Document ID: US11998180B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/625,364
- Filed: 2020-07-08
- Published: 2022-09-01
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2019-07-09
- Assignees: Crea IP B.V.
- Applicants: Crea IP B.V.
- Inventors: Adriaantje Coliene Dam-Huisman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998180B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/00: Surgical instruments, devices or methods (A61B18/00 takes precedence; dental tools A61C3/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/20)
- A61F 9/008: using laser
- G05G 1/305: {Compound pedal co-operating with two or more controlled members}
- H01H 3/14: adapted for operation by a part of the human body other than the hand, e.g. by foot
- A61B 2017/00371: {Multiple actuation, e.g. pushing of two buttons, or two working tips becoming operational}
- A61B 2017/00973: {pedal-operated}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00)
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)

## Abstract

System (20) with a safety lock (21), the safety lock (21) being configured to at least partially prevent use of a surgical instrument (22). A foot switch assembly (1) is operably configured to control the surgical instrument (22), and has multiple switches (4; 10; 14; 15; 16). A memory (26) is present for storing a predetermined switch sequence associated with the switches (4; 10; 14; 15; 16) of the foot switch assembly (1), as well as a control unit (25) configured to determine whether a series of input switch actuations from the foot switch assembly (1) corresponds to the predetermined switch sequence, and if so, deactivating the safety lock (21) in response to the series of input switch actuations corresponding to the predetermined switch sequence. The invention also relates to various embodiments of a foot switch assembly for controlling a surgical instrument.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising
a safety lock, the safety lock being configured to at least partially prevent use of a surgical instrument;
a foot switch assembly operably configured to control the surgical instrument, the foot switch assembly comprising multiple switches;
a memory storing a predetermined switch sequence associated with the multiple switches of the foot switch assembly;
a control unit configured to determine whether a series of input switch actuations from the foot switch assembly corresponds to the predetermined switch sequence, and if so, deactivating the safety lock in response to the series of input switch actuations corresponding to the predetermined switch sequence.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument comprises a laser device controlled by an ophthalmic surgery instrument to which the foot switch assembly is operably connected.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the foot switch assembly further comprises a sensor configured to detect presence of a foot of a user on the moveable foot pedal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system according to claim 3, wherein a ready status of the surgical instrument is only activated if a foot is detected by the sensor.

### Claim 5

A method for activating a surgical instrument, the method comprising:
providing an apparatus having a safety lock, the safety lock being configured to prevent use of the surgical instrument;
providing a foot switch assembly operably configured to control the surgical instrument, the foot switch assembly comprising multiple switches;
storing, in a memory, a predetermined switch sequence associated with the multiple switches of the foot switch assembly;
determining whether a series of input switch actuations corresponds to the predetermined switch sequence, and if so, deactivating the safety lock in response to the series of input switch actuations corresponding to the predetermined switch sequence.