Foot pedal control with user-selectable operational ranges
AssigneeAllergan, Inc.
InventorFrank Zanger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is provided for the operation of phacoemulsifier apparatus in the performance of a phacoemulsification in which three modes of operation are required. The method for the establishment of an angular range of foot pedal operation to each of the modes of the operation and assigning a linear relationship between the angular position of the foot pedal within the range and an output signal from the foot pedal within each range. The foot pedal control sensitivity is obtained by adjusting the range of position of the foot pedal within each of the selected modes.
Claims4
In the performance of phacoemulsification, a method for operating phacoemulsifier apparatus, said phacoemulsification requiring at least three modes of operation of said phacoemulsifier apparatus, including:
- irrigation of an eye with a saline solution;
- simultaneous irrigation and aspiration of fluid;
- and simultaneous irrigation, emulsification of tissue and aspiration of same, said phacoemulsifier apparatus having a foot control for controlling the modes of operation, said method comprising the steps of:
- establishing an angular range of foot pedal operation for each of the modes of operation, said angular ranges being consecutive and, in combination, defining a total angular displacement for said foot pedal;
- assigning a linear relationship between the angular position of the foot pedal within each range and an output signal from the foot pedal within each range;
- and
- adjusting foot pedal control sensitivity by changing the range of position of the foot pedal for selected modes of operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.