Locking casters for surgical systems with sensing
AssigneeAuris Health, Inc.
InventorsJessie Ramirez Sanchez, Liam J. Nolan, Christian de Jesus Ruiz, Sarah Ann Horton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A caster assembly that includes a caster wheel, a lock member, a pedal, and a position sensor. The lock member can engage the caster wheel. Movement of the pedal towards a depressed position can cause engagement of the lock member against the caster wheel to resist or prevent rotation of the caster wheel. Movement of the pedal towards a released position can separate the lock member from the caster wheel to permit rotation of the caster wheel. The position sensor can detect a position of the pedal.
Claims20
A caster assembly for use with a surgical console, the caster assembly comprising:
- a caster wheel;
- a lock member that is engageable against the caster wheel, the lock member having a first end portion that defines a pivot and a second end portion that is movable to rotate the lock member about the pivot to selectively engage the lock member against the caster wheel;
- a pedal coupled to the second end portion of the lock member, wherein (i) movement of the pedal towards a depressed position causes rotation of the lock member for engaging the lock member against the caster wheel to resist or prevent rotation of the caster wheel, and (ii) movement of the pedal towards a released position causes rotation of the lock member for separating the lock member from the caster wheel to permit rotation of the caster wheel;
- and
- a position sensor disposed adjacent to the pedal to detect a position of the pedal.
A method of interlocking a surgical console, the method comprising:
- detecting a position of a pedal that is coupled to a lock member of a caster assembly, wherein (i) movement of the pedal toward a depressed position causes rotation of the lock member for engaging the lock member against a caster wheel to resist or prevent rotation of the caster wheel, and (ii) movement of the pedal toward a released position causes rotation of the lock member for separating the lock member from the caster wheel to permit rotation of the caster wheel;
- and
- when the pedal is detected in the released position, disabling an operation of the surgical console.
A caster assembly for use with a surgical console, the caster assembly comprising:
- a caster, comprising:
- a caster wheel configured to swivel and rotate relative to the surgical console;
- and
- a direction locking mechanism comprising a keyway that is rotatable to (i) a direction locked position for imparting resistance against swiveling of the caster wheel relative to the surgical console, or to (ii) a direction unlocked position for permitting swivel of the caster wheel relative to the surgical console;
- a key extending between a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion extends through the keyway of the direction locking mechanism of the caster;
- a first pedal rotatably coupled to the key, wherein the first pedal is movable (i) towards a first depressed position for rotating the key and the keyway toward the direction locked position, and (ii) towards a first released position for rotating the key and the keyway toward the direction unlocked position;
- a lock member defining a first end portion and a second end portion, and the second end portion of the lock member being pivotable about the first end portion;
- a second pedal coupled to the second end portion of the lock member, wherein the second pedal is moveable (i) towards a second depressed position for rotating the lock member to engage the lock member against the caster wheel to resist or prevent rotation of the caster wheel, and (ii) towards a second released position for rotating the lock member to separate the lock member from the caster wheel to permit rotation of the caster wheel;
- and
- a position sensor disposed adjacent to the second pedal to detect a position of the second pedal and determine a rotational position of the lock member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.