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US 6,962,581 B2Granted
Foot controller for microsurgical system
AssigneeAlcon Inc.
InventorDavid A. Thoe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims12
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, wherein said varying of said resistance comprises increasing said resistance a first time, decreasing said resistance, and increasing said resistance a second time within said detent.
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, wherein said varying of said first torque comprises increasing said first torque a first time, decreasing said first torque, and increasing said first torque a second time within said detent.
5 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;
- 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, wherein said varying of said resistance comprises decreasing said resistance a first time, increasing said resistance, and decreasing said resistance a second time within said detent.
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, wherein said varying of said first torque comprises decreasing said first torque a first time, increasing said first torque, and decreasing said first torque a second time within said detent.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.