US 5,300,926 AGranted

Medical apparatus, having a single actuating device

AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft

InventorKlaus Stoeckl

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Abstract

A medical apparatus having a variety of electrically actuatable elements includes actuation arrangement for assisting the selection of functions of the electrically actuatable elements. The actuation arrangement includes a single actuation device, preferably a foot switch, that can be brought from an initial position into two working positions. By actuating the actuation device into one of the two working positions, function display elements provided with symbol identifiers and optical signal generators are driven in succession and are displayed on a visual field. A control arrangement processes the control signals from the signal generators, such that the optical signal generators of the function display elements are successively driven in accordance with the selected actuation direction until a desired function display element is reached. The appertaining operator elements are thereby switched in a preparatory manner. By subsequent actuation of the actuation device into the other working position, the appertaining operator element is activated.

A medical apparatus comprising:

a plurality of different physically elements, including device, instrument, and auxiliary functions, each having respective, variable operating and positioning parameters associated therewith;
a single, user-manipulatable actuation element moveable in a manipulation range from a standby position successively to at least first and second working positions for selecting said operating parameters;
user-operable control signal generator means connected to said actuation element and to said actuatable elements for supplying respective control signals to said actuatable elements to set said variable operating parameters;
visual display means for displaying a plurality of display elements corresponding to said actuatable elements and said operating parameters, and representing one of said device, instrument, and auxiliary functions to be selected;
optical signal generator means connected to said control signal generator means and connected to said display means causing successive display of each display element corresponding to an actuatable element and the selected operating parameters for that actuatable element, said display elements being arranged on said visual display means along at least one limb on said visual display means and forming at least one information graphic block with said optical generator means on said visual display means;
and
electronic control means connected to said actuation element, said actuatable elements, said control signal generator means, said optical signal generator means, and to said display means for driving said optical signal generator means to display said display elements in a succession when said actuatable element is in said first position to assist an operator in selecting said operating parameters via said control signal generator means, and for thereafter enabling operation of a selected, displayed actuatable element, at the selected operating parameters, only when said actuation element is moved to said second position.

4 more elements

Abstract

Claims27