Foot switch pedal controller for a surgical instrument

A foot operable controller operable for enabling an operator to control an instrument comprising:

• a foot pedal assembly having a foot pedal, said foot pedal being laterally and vertically displaceable from a rest position;
• and an output signal generator in operable communication with the foot pedal, the output signal generator providing an instrument control signal having a value responsive to displacement of said foot pedal,
• wherein said foot pedal is laterally displaceable over a distance centered on said rest position.

A foot operable controller operable for enabling an operator to control an instrument comprising:

• a floor-supportable controller base having a lower surface, an upper surface defining a first plane and left and right sides;
• a foot pedal assembly mounted on said upper surface of said base, said foot pedal assembly having a foot pedal having a foot pedal base and a foot pedal cover moveably mounted thereon, and a control signal generating device operably attached to the foot pedal cover, the control signal generating device producing a measurable control signal having a magnitude responsive to lateral movement of said foot pedal cover relative to the foot pedal base in a plane substantially parallel to said first plane.

A foot operable controller for enabling an operator to control a surgical instrument by moving a foot pedal through a vertical distance by application of force thereto, the vertical distance being partitioned into at least two discrete segments with a transition zone located between each of the adjacent segments, each of said segments corresponding to one of a plurality of instrument control settings, and wherein the force required to move the foot pedal through at least one of the segments over a portion of the at least one of the segments and increases over a following portion of the at least one of the segments.

A foot operable controller operable for enabling an operator to control a surgical instrument by moving a foot pedal wherein the foot pedal is movable through a distance by changing a force applied to the foot pedal, said distance being partitioned into discrete segments having transition zones therebetween, each of said discrete segments corresponding to one of a plurality of instrument control signals, and wherein the force required to move said foot pedal through a distance coextensive with at least one of said discrete segments decreases over a portion of the at least one of the discrete segments and increases over another portion of the at least one of the discrete segments.

A foot operable controller for enabling an operator to generate a control signal for controlling a surgical instrument, comprising:

• a foot pedal movable in both a vertical direction and a horizontal direction by increasing or decreasing a force applied to the foot pedal in said respective vertical and horizontal directions;
• and a control signal generator in operable communication with the foot pedal and responsive to movement of the foot pedal in the vertical and horizontal directions to generate control signals for controlling a surgical instrument,
• wherein said foot pedal is movable through a horizontal distance in a horizontal direction, a portion of said horizontal distance being a neutral zone wherein application of a minimum, substantially constant force in a horizontal direction moves said foot pedal within said neutral zone.

A foot operable controller, comprising:

• a floor-supportable controller base having a lower surface, an upper surface defining a first plane and left and right sides;
• a foot pedal assembly having a foot pedal affixed to a shaft, said shaft being rotatably mounted on said upper surface of said controller base;
• a detent assembly mounted on said controller base, said detent assembly being responsive to rotation of said shaft and providing means for exerting a tactilely perceptive change in resistance to rotation of said shaft when said shaft rotationally traverses a predetermined rotational position, the detent assembly having a detent base, a detent arm having a proximal end affixed to said shaft and a distal end in opposition to said proximal end, the detent arm rotating in response to rotation of said shaft, a spring disposed between said pivotally mounted detent arm and said base, and a cam carriage slidably mounted on said base and operably engaged with said detent arm to provide variable resistance to said shaft rotation.

A foot operable controller operable for enabling an operator to control an instrument comprising:

• a floor-supportable controller base having a lower surface, an upper surface defining a first plane and left and right sides;
• a foot pedal assembly mounted on said upper surface of said base, said foot pedal assembly having a foot pedal base mounted on said upper surface of said base, a control signal generating device mounted on said foot pedal base, and left and right resistance means in mechanical communication with the control signal generating device, the left and right resistance means separated by a distance defining a neutral zone and configured to be engaged by lateral movement of an operator's foot, the neutral zone allowing movement of the operator's foot through the neutral zone without communicating the movement of the operator's foot to the control signal generating device, the control signal generating device producing a measurable control signal having a magnitude responsive to lateral movement of the operator's foot relative to the foot pedal base when the movement of the operator's foot engages the left or right resistance means.

A foot operable controller operable for enabling an operator to control an instrument comprising:

• a floor-supportable controller base having a lower surface, an upper surface defining a first plane and left and right sides;
• a foot pedal assembly mounted on said upper surface of said base, said foot pedal assembly having a foot pedal base pivotally mounted on said upper surface of said base, the pivotal mounting providing for vertical movement of the foot pedal base in relation to the upper surface of said base, a control signal generating device mounted on said foot pedal base, and left and right resistance means in mechanical communication with the control signal generating device, the left and right resistance means separated by a distance defining a neutral zone and configured to be engaged by lateral movement of an operator's foot, the neutral zone allowing movement of the operator's foot through the neutral zone without communicating the movement of the operator's foot to the control signal generating device, the control signal generating device producing a measurable control signal having a magnitude responsive to lateral movement of the operator's foot relative to the foot pedal base when the movement of the operator's foot engages the left or right resistance means.

A method for providing tactile feedback to an operator of a foot pedal as the foot pedal is displaced in a downward direction to control one or more functions of an instrument to signal the operator that a selected function of the instrument is about to be engaged, comprising:

• providing a first tactilely perceivable resistance as a foot pedal is depressed through a selected vertical distance;
• providing a second tactilely perceivable resistance as the foot pedal is further depressed beyond the selected vertical distance, the second tactilely perceivable resistance being less than the first tactilely perceivable resistance.

A method for providing tactile feedback to an operator of a foot pedal as the foot pedal is moved in a vertical direction to control an instrument to signal the operator that a selected function of the instrument is about to be engaged, comprising:

• providing a first tactilely perceivable resistance as the foot pedal is moved over a first vertical distance;
• providing a second tactilely perceivable resistance as the foot pedal is moved a second vertical distance, the second tactilely perceivable resistance being less than the first tactilely perceivable resistance;
• and providing a third tactilely perceivable resistance as the foot pedal is moved a third vertical distance, the third tactilely perceivable resistance being greater than the second tactilely perceivable resistance.