METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT VARIOUS FUNCTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

Abstract

A surgical instruments can be carried out via a foot switch by an operator or a surgeon. It is typical that during operation, multiple surgical instruments are each operated via one foot switch. As a result, the risk of an incorrect operation of the foot switches increases because the space available for the placement of the foot switches is limited. The invention provides a method and a device using which various functions in connection with surgical instruments can be carried out in a simple and safe manner. This is achieved in that at least one projector for generating a virtual control panel and at least one sensor for acquiring the virtual control panel are assigned to a foot switch.

Claims

1. A device for carrying out various functions in connection with surgical instruments, wherein the functions can be carried out by actuating a foot switch on the device, wherein the foot switch includes at least one projector for generating at least one virtual control panel and at least one sensor for acquiring the virtual control panel.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foot switch including the at least one projector and the at least one sensor can be coupled to at least one surgical instrument, via a cable or wirelessly.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the virtual control panel is configurable, for carrying out various functions in connection with the surgical instruments.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an actuation of the virtual control panel by an operator, is establishable via the at least one sensor and the corresponding function can be initiated in connection with the surgical instrument coupled to the foot switch by this actuation.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one projector and the at least one sensor can be added onto a foot switch including at least one foot pedal, or that the at least one projector and the at least one sensor are designed as a single operating element.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a receiver for transmitting and/or receiving the items of information can be assigned for wireless transmission of items of information between the sensor and a surgical instrument thereof.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projector is a laser projector.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one projector and the at least one sensor include a separate energy source, or are coupled to the energy supply of the foot switch.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein functions without safety and/or health risks are carried out via the virtual control panel.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a function can be carried out via the virtual control panel only after actuation of a foot pedal of the foot switch or of another operating element.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foot switch includes a read device for wirelessly reading out at least one data memory, wherein person-specific settings or configurations or authorization data for the use of the device are storable on the data memory.

12. A method for actuating a surgical instrument, wherein various functions are carried out in connection with the surgical instrument by an actuation of a virtual control panel, as claimed in claim 1.

13. The method for actuating a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 12, wherein the virtual control panel is operated by a foot, by a hand, or by a gesture of an operator.

14. The method for actuating a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 12, wherein the virtual control panel or a foot switch is automatically configured on the basis of person-specific data, which are stored on a data memory, and are read out wirelessly.

Description

[0021] One preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detail hereinafter on the basis of the drawing. A device having a foot switch and a virtual control panel is schematically shown in the single FIGURE of the drawing.

[0022] In addition to manual actuating means, actuating means which are actuated using the feet are also used to actuate surgical instruments. The scope of action of an operator or a surgeon is enlarged by the use of such foot switches. While the surgeon carries out functions, for example cutting tissue, sewing, and the like manually, other functions in connection with the surgical instruments, for example controlling the illumination or taking photos or videos can be carried out by the actuation of a foot switch. The foot switches are generally located here on a floor of the treatment room or operating room.

[0023] A device 10 having a foot switch 11 is shown in the FIGURE. The foot switch 11 shown in the FIGURE includes two pedals or foot pedals 12, 13. However, it can also be provided that the foot switch 11 includes only one pedal or more than two pedals. In general, various functions may be carried out in connection with surgical instruments by these foot pedals 12, 13, which are possibly marked using colors. The foot pedals 12, 13 can be buttons, which initiate a corresponding function by a slight exertion of pressure by the foot or a toe of the operator.

[0024] The foot pedals 12, 13 are arranged for simple use on a frame or housing 14 in such a way that they are at least nearly level with the ground. I.e., when the housing 14 of the foot switch 11 is placed on a floor 15, the pedals 12, 13 are reachable by slightly angling the foot of the operator.

[0025] In order that the surgeon does not inadvertently slip from one of the two pedals 12, 13 to the other pedal 12, 13 during the treatment or during the operation, or actuate the two foot pedals 12, 13 simultaneously, these are each separated from one another by a web 16, 17. The webs 16, 17 can be part of the housing and can protrude in a height above the foot pedals 12, 13. Similar webs 18, 19 can be arranged on the opposite side of the webs 16, 17 relative to the foot pedals 12, 13, which can be used by the surgeon, inter alia, as an orientation aid for the actuation of the pedals 12, 13. For the case that multiple foot switches 11 are arranged adjacent to one another on the floor 15, the webs 18, 19 can also prevent the surgeon from slipping during the actuation of one foot pedal 12, 13 onto the pedals of an adjacent foot switch 11 or inadvertently actuating pedals of two adjacent foot switches.

[0026] In the exemplary embodiment of a foot switch 11 shown in the FIGURE, a further actuating means in the form of a button 20 is arranged between the two foot pedals 12, 13 or between the two webs 16, 17. This button 20 is also separated by the two webs 16, 17 from the two foot pedals 12, 13, so that inadvertently actuating the button 20 together with one of the foot pedals 12, 13 can be nearly precluded. Further functions may be carried out via this button 20 in connection with the surgical instrument to which the foot switch 11 is connected. Both the function which may be initiated by actuating the button 20 and also the functions which can be initiated by the foot pedals 12, 13 can be occupied with various functions depending on the situation or corresponding to the present requirements. It is thus conceivable that the functions of the foot pedals 12, 13 and the button 20 are newly occupied for each treatment or each operation. In addition, it is conceivable that certain functions can only be carried out by a combined actuation of the button 20 with one or both of the foot pedals 12, 13. It could thus be provided that a specific function can only be initiated by the foot pedal 12 when the button 20 has previously been actuated briefly or for a specific duration. For the supply with electrical energy, it can be provided that the foot switch 11 is connected by a cable 21 to an energy supply or to the corresponding surgical instrument. Alternatively or additionally, it can moreover be conceivable that the foot switch 11 is supplied with electrical energy by batteries or rechargeable batteries.

[0027] In addition to the energy supply, the cable 21 can also be used to exchange items of information between the foot switch 11 and, for example, a surgical instrument or a control unit. In addition to the wired communication between the foot switch 11 and a further device, it can additionally be provided that the transmission of items of information can take place wirelessly, that is to say via Bluetooth, WLAN, radio, or the like. The wireless communication and the supply of the device 10 with electrical energy by batteries has the advantage that no further cables are necessary, which are annoying in particular in consideration of the limited space on the floor 15 of the treatment room.

[0028] The device 10 shown in the FIGURE includes a projector 22 arranged on the foot switch 11. This projector 22, which can be designed, for example, as a laser projector, generates a virtual control panel 23 on the floor 15. This virtual control panel 23 can be understood as an additional control panel for carrying out a further function in connection with the surgical instrument. Precisely like the foot pedals 12, 13 of the foot switch 11, the control panel 23 can also be actuated using the foot. It is thus provided that the projector 22 projects, for example, a control panel 23 on the floor 15 for regulating the luminance of an illumination means or for carrying out an image recording. For this purpose, corresponding symbols or commands can be projected on the floor 15. Depending on the desired function or need, the projector 22 may be set beforehand in such a way that it projects a corresponding projection or a virtual control panel 23 on the floor 15.

[0029] The virtual control panel 23 is acquired by at least one sensor 24. This sensor 24 can be, for example, a CCD chip or a camera. As soon as the virtual control panel 23 changes or darkens, this can be recognized by the sensor 24 as an actuation of the control panel 23 by the foot of the surgeon. This perceived actuation of the virtual control panel 23 is then relayed by the sensor 24 in a wireless or wired manner to a corresponding control unit or the corresponding surgical instrument and the corresponding function is initiated. The actuation of the virtual control panel can also be differentiated by a second sensor 25, which is designed similarly to the sensor 24. It is thus conceivable that not only changes of the virtual control panel 23 in its appearance are perceived, but also a gesture of the foot, for example, guiding the foot along the floor 15. For example, the brightness of a light source could be continuously changed by this gesture or by this guiding of the foot along the floor 15.

[0030] In the exemplary embodiment of the device 10 shown in the FIGURE, the projector 22 and the sensors 24, 25 are coupled via a housing-like carrier 26 to the foot switch 11. It can just as well be provided that the projector 22 and also the sensors 24, 25 are integrated directly into the housing 14 of the foot switch 11. Furthermore, it can also be provided according to the invention that the carrier 26 including the projector 22 and the sensors 24, 25 is placed on the floor 15 detached from the foot switch 11.

[0031] One exemplary embodiment of the invention can provide that a plurality of such foot switches 11 having projectors 22 and sensors 24, 25 or a plurality of such carriers 26 having projectors 22 and sensors 24, 25 are placed on the floor 15 in order to carry out various functions in connection with various surgical instruments.

[0032] A functional combination of the foot pedals 12, 13 and/or the button 20 with the virtual control panel 23 is also conceivable. Precisely as described above for the button 20, it is also conceivable that functions of the virtual control panel 23 may only be executed if the button 20 and/or one of the foot pedals 12, 13 was previously actuated. In this way of combining the actuation of the various input means, a large number of different functions may be carried out in connection with one surgical instrument, and without further space-intensive foot switches having to be placed on the floor 15.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0033] 10 device [0034] 11 foot switch [0035] 12 foot pedal [0036] 13 foot pedal [0037] 14 housing [0038] 15 floor [0039] 16 web [0040] 17 web [0041] 18 web [0042] 19 web [0043] 20 button [0044] 21 cable [0045] 22 projector [0046] 23 control panel [0047] 24 sensor [0048] 25 sensor [0049] 26 carrier