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US 2004/0106915 A1Published application
Foot controller for microsurgical system
AssigneeAlcon Inc.
InventorDavid A. Thoe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved foot controller of a microsurgical system, and a method of operating the foot controller, are disclosed. The method involves using a computer to modulate a detent of the foot controller from the beginning of the detent to the end of the detent.
Claims10
A method of operating a foot controller of a microsurgical system, comprising the steps of:
- providing a microsurgical system, said system comprising:
- a computer;
- and
- a foot controller operatively coupled to said computer, said foot controller having a foot pedal with a range of motion, said range of motion having a first area indicative of a first surgical mode of said microsurgical system and a second area indicative of a second surgical mode of said microsurgical system, said first and second areas separated by a detent;
- and
- using said computer to modulate said detent by varying a resistance felt by a user's foot as said foot presses on said foot pedal.
3 more elements
A method of operating a foot controller of a microsurgical system, comprising the steps of:
- providing a microsurgical system, said system comprising:
- a computer;
- a foot controller operatively coupled to said computer, said foot controller having a foot pedal with a range of motion and a shaft defining an axis of rotation, said range of motion having a first area indicative of a first surgical mode of said microsurgical system and a second area indicative of a second surgical mode of said microsurgical system, said first and second areas separated by a detent;
- and
- a force feedback motor mechanically coupled to said shaft;
- using said force feedback motor to apply a first torque to said shaft that opposes a second torque applied to said shaft by a user's foot as said foot presses on said foot pedal;
- and
- using said computer to modulate said detent by varying said first torque.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.