System and method for automatically powering on and synchronizing a wireless remote console to a central control unit so as to allow remote control of a medical device

A method of controlling at least one medical device by a wireless connection, comprising the steps of:

• providing a remote console with an identification device which is programmed with an identification code unique to the remote console with which the identification device is associated and having at least one user-operable control for remotely controlling at least one function on at least one medical device, the remote console including an activation circuit separate from the identification device and having an off state wherein no power is drawn from a battery of the remote console;
• providing a central control unit with an identification reader;
• connecting the at least one medical device to the central control unit capable of communicating wirelessly with the remote console;
• automatically powering on the remote console with the battery in response to the inducement of an electrical current in the activation circuit of the remote console by an electromagnetic field generated by the identification reader associated with the central control unit by placing the remote console within a predetermined distance of the central control unit;
• wirelessly retrieving the identification code from the identification device and automatically wirelessly synchronizing the remote console with the central control unit using the electromagnetic field by placing the remote console within a predetermined distance of the identification reader of the central control unit;
• and
• generating with the synchronized remote console at least one wireless remote console command signal that is indicative of a state of the at least one user-operable control.

A system for controlling at least two medical devices, comprising:

• a central control unit in communication with and controlling at least two medical devices;
• a remote console comprising a battery, at least one user-operable control and an activation circuit for activating the remote console by supplying power from the battery to the remote console, said remote console being configured to wirelessly transmit console command signals to the central control unit indicating a state of the at least one user-operable control, wherein the remote console, while in an off state drawing no power from the battery, is automatically powered on by the battery in response to the activation circuit being brought within a predetermined distance of the central control unit;
• an identification device associated with the remote console and programmed with an identification code unique to the remote console, said identification device being separate from said activation circuit;
• and
• an identification reader associated with the central control unit that automatically wirelessly retrieves the identification code programmed in the identification device using an electromagnetic field when the identification device is brought within a predetermined distance of the identification reader and the activation circuit associated with the remote console automatically powers on the remote console with the battery in response to the inducement of an electrical current in the activation circuit by the electromagnetic field generated by the identification reader.

A system for controlling at least two medical devices by a secure wireless connection, comprising:

• at least two medical devices for use during a medical procedure;
• a remote console comprising:
• at least one user-operable control;
• a battery;
• a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting console command signals indicating a state of the at least one user-operable control and an identification code unique to the remote console;
• an identification device storing the identification code;
• and
• an activation circuit for powering on the remote console from an off state drawing no power from the battery to an on state by enabling the battery to provide power to the remote console,
• a central control unit in communication with the at least two medical devices comprising:
• a central control unit receiver for receiving the console command signals wirelessly transmitted by the transmitter of the remote console to control the at least two medical devices;
• and
• an identification reader providing an output to read the identification code of the identification device for automatically placing the central control unit and the remote console in a synchronized state when the remote console is brought within a predetermined distance of the central control unit so as to permit the identification reader to wirelessly retrieve the identification code programmed in the identification device, and the output from the identification reader inducing an electrical current in the activation circuit that automatically powers on the remote console with the battery in response to the output.