KR20040021558A - Footswitch - Google Patents

Abstract

A footswitch having an adjustable footrest and switch arrangement is disclosed. This adjustable footrest and switch arrangement allows the foot switch to be more ergonomically calibrated for a variety of users.

Description

Foot switch {FOOTSWITCH}

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the field of surgical consoles, and more particularly to a footswitch used for controlling a microsurgical cone sole.

During modern surgery, particularly ophthalmic surgery, surgeons use a variety of pneumatically and electronically driven handpieces. The handpiece is operated by a microprocessor driven surgical cone, which receives inputs from surgeons and assistants by various peripheral devices, including footswitches. Prior art footswitches are described in US Pat. Nos. 4,837,857 (Sheller et al.), 4,965,417 (Massie), 4,983,901 [Lehmer], 5,091,656 [Gahn], 5,268,624 [Zanger], 5,554,894 [Sepielli], 5,580,347 [Reimels], 5,635,777 [Telymonde et al.], 5,787,760 [Torracson (Thorlakson), 5,983,749 (Holtorf) and 6,179,829 B1 (Bisch et al.) And International Patent Application Publication No. WO 98/08442 (Bisch et al.), WO 00 / 12037 (Chen) and WO 02/01310 (Chen), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. However, these patents focus primarily on the functional features of the footswitch, not the ergonomics of the footswitch.

Thus, there is a continuing need for ergonomically improved footswitches.

The present invention improves the prior art surgical footswitch by providing a footswitch having an adjustable footrest and switch arrangement, allowing the footswitch to be more ergonomically corrected for a variety of users.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a surgical footswitch that can be adjusted to accommodate feet of different sizes.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an ergonomically adjustable surgical foot switch.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a surgical foot switch having an adjustable switch.

These and other advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and claims.

1 is a perspective view of a surgical footswitch of the present invention.

2a to 2c are enlarged plan views of the foot switch of the present invention showing the controllability of the side switch.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the surgical foot switch showing the assembled state of the side switch.

4A-4B are bottom views of side switches that may be used in the footswitch of the present invention showing the operation of the rotary locking mechanism.

5 is a plan view of the foot switch of the present invention.

Figure 6 is an exploded view showing a heel cup slide adjustment mechanism that can be used in the foot switch of the present invention.

7A-7B are plan views of heel cups that may be used in the footswitch of the present invention showing the operation of the slidable heel cup adjustment mechanism.

8 is a plan view of the foot switch of the present invention similar to FIG.

9A-9B are bottom views of scaffolding switches that may be used in the footswitch of the present invention.

Figure 10 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the foot switch of the present invention showing the position of the footrest pivot point relative to the ankle of the user.

11A to 11B are side plan views of the foot switch of the present invention showing the operation of the footrest rotation lock.

12 is a plan view of the footswitch of the present invention similar to FIGS. 6 and 8, showing the rotational operation of the heel cup.

13 is an exploded view illustrating the heel cup rotating mechanism;

14 is a bottom view of the foot switch of the present invention.

15A-15C are cross-sectional views of the footswitch of the present invention showing the operation of anti-gravity spring plunger feet.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10: foot switch 12, 36, 85: base

14: footrest 16: heel cup

18, 64: switch 20: protective bumper

22: locking button 24, 48: locking pin

26: detent 30, 52, 72: hole

34: indicator 36: scaffolding base

38, 74: trust bearing 42: heel cup slide section

44: locking lever 46: retainer

58: slot 62: reference point

66, 80: return spring 70: alignment pin

76: alignment cap 78: return lever

82: screw 84; High friction bottom

86: plunger 88: plunger tip

100: user foot

As shown in FIG. 1, the foot switch 10 of the present invention includes a base 12, a footrest 14 having a heel cup 16, and side or wing switches 18 as a whole. And all may be made of any suitable material, such as stainless steel, titanium, or plastic. Base 12 may include a protective bumper 20, which may be made of a relatively soft elastomeric material. As can be seen in FIGS. 2A-2C, 3, and 4A-4B, the side switch 18 is inward (FIG. 2B) or outside (FIG. 2) to increase or decrease the distance between the switches 18. 2c) can accommodate the change according to the width of the user's foot (100). This adjustment is made by pressing the locking button 22 such that the locking pin 24 on the base 12 is released from the detent 26 in the switch 18 and located in the base 12. Rotate with respect to the pin 28. When the button 22 is released, the spring 32 presses the detent 26 against the locking pin 24 to hold the switch 18 in the locked position. The relative position of the switch 18 can be visually determined by the use of the switch position indicator 34, as best seen in FIGS. 2B and 2C.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7A-7B, the length of the footrest 14 may be adjusted by the sliding movement of the heel cup 16. As best shown in FIG. 6, the scaffold 14 is mounted to the scaffold base 36 by a thrust bearing 38, allowing the scaffold 14 to pivot about an axis 40. The heel cup slide 42 is received in the footrest 14 and includes a locking lever 44, which is fixed to the heel cup slide 42 by a retainer 46. In this way, the locking pin 48 is pulled from the locking pin hole 52 by pressing the locking lever 44 and the heel cup slide 42 is pushed onto the footrest 14 as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7B. It slides longitudinally along the slot 58. The relative position of the heel cup 16 relative to the footrest 14 may be visually indicated by the indicator 60. In addition, the scaffold 14 may include an elevated reference point 62 that marks the center of the scaffold 14.

Control of the width and length described above is a foot switch (10), percentile fifth women new shoes or not wear shoes to Monju to 95 th percentile male foot Hsiu ^{(5 th percentile fermale to the 95} th percentile It is desirable to be able to adjust to accommodate male foot width and length. As shown in FIG. 10, the ankle rotation axis 65 of the foot 100 is positioned behind the pivot axis 68 of the footrest 14 for all three footboard lengths.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9A-9B, the scaffold 14 rotates or counter-rotates with respect to the thrust bearing 38 to actuate the left and right switches 64 mounted on the scaffold base 36. can do. Return spring 66 provides automatic centering of the footrest 14 followed by rotation. As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the footrest base 36 includes alignment pins 70 that are assembled into holes 72 in the base 12 when the footrest 14 is in the non-pivot position. do. This configuration prevents the rotation of the footrest 14 relative to the actuation switch 64 when the footrest 14 is in the non-rotating position (FIG. 11A), but when the footrest 14 is pressed or pivoted (FIG. 11b) allows rotation of the scaffold 14.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, heel cup 16 is mounted to heel cup slide 42 using thrust bearing 74, alignment cap 76, and screw 82. This configuration allows rotation of the heel cup 16 regardless of any rotation of the footrest 14 (as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9A-9B) when the footrest is rotatably placed in a fixed position. 11 allows operation of the side switch 18. The return lever 78, mounted to the heel cup 16, acts on the return spring 80 to provide automatic centering of the heel cup 16 in the rest position.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15A-15C, the bottom portion 85 of the base 12 is covered with a relatively high friction polymer (eg, VERSAFLEX TYPE) material 84, And a plurality of shrinkable, anti-gravity spring loaded plunger pits 86 made of low friction polymer material (eg, DELRIN® acetal resin). As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, when there is no weight in the footswitch 10, the spring loading plunger 86 has a short distance D outward from the bottom 84 (eg, 0.04 inches) to allow easy sliding of the footswitch 10 on the relatively low friction plunger tip 88 in contact with the floor. As shown in FIG. 15C, when the weight rests on the footswitch 10, the plunger 86 is retracted and the high friction bottom 84 contacts the plug, causing the footswitch 10 to slide during use. Makes it difficult to become.

This detailed description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention as described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The present invention has the effect of improving the foot switch of the prior art by providing a foot switch having an adjustable footrest and switch arrangement, so that the foot switch can be more ergonomically corrected for various users.

Claims (31)

a) the base, b) scaffold mounted to the base, and c) a pair of side switches rotatably mounted to a base on either side of the footrest, the pair of side switches being adjustable relative to the footrest to increase or decrease the distance between the switches; Included, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 1, The switch is locked in place by a locking pin assembled to the base that is secured in a detent in the switch, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 1, The position of the switch is visually indicated by a switch position indicator, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 1, The scaffold comprises an elevated reference point to assist in centering the foot on the scaffold, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 1, The switch can be adjusted to accommodate a fifth percentile to 95th percentile male foot statement, with or without shoes, Surgical footswitch. a) the base, b) scaffold mounted to the base, and c) a heel cup slide portion retained on the scaffold to adjustably increase or decrease the length of the scaffold, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 6, The heel cup is prevented from sliding by a plurality of locking pins mounted to the heel cup, the locking pin is assembled in the locking hole of the scaffold, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 6, The position of the heel cup is visually indicated by a position indicator, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 6, The scaffold includes an elevated reference point to assist in centering the foot on the scaffold, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 6, The heel cup can be adjusted to accommodate the fifth percentile to 95th percentile male foot count, with or without shoes, Surgical footswitch. a) the base, b) a scaffold pivoted and rotatably mounted to the base, and c) a pair of switches mounted to the scaffold such that rotation or reverse rotation of the scaffold actuates the switch, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 11, Further comprising a locking pin mounted on the scaffold assembled in the locking hole in the base such that when the scaffold is in a stationary non-rotating position, operation of the switch and rotation of the scaffold are prevented Surgical footswitch. a) the base, b) scaffold mounted to the base, and c) a heel cup rotatably mounted to said scaffold so that it can be rotated regardless of any movement of said scaffold, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 13, A pair of side switches rotatably mounted to the base on either side of the scaffold, wherein rotation of the heel cup allows operation of the switch regardless of any movement of the scaffold, Surgical footswitch. a) the base, b) a scaffold mounted on the base, c) a plurality of plungers resiliently mounted in said base, and d) a relatively high friction material mounted to the base bottom, The plunger is retracted into the base when a weight is placed on the footswitch and extends outwardly from the base and the relatively high friction material when the weight is not placed on the footswitch. Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 15, The plunger is made of a relatively low friction material Surgical footswitch. a) a base having a bottom, b) a scaffold that is pivotally mounted on the base and rotated; c) a pair of side switches rotatably mounted to the base at either side of the footrest, the side being operable without movement of the footrest and adjustable to the footrest to increase or decrease the distance between the side switches With switch, d) a heel cup retained slidably and rotationally on the scaffold, to adjustably increase or decrease the length of the scaffold; e) rotation or reverse rotation of the scaffold actuates the switch. A pair of switches mounted on the scaffolding, f) a pair of plungers resiliently mounted to said bottom, and g) a relatively low friction material mounted to the base bottom, The plunger contracts when a weight is placed on the footswitch and extends outwardly from the base and the relatively high friction material when the weight is not placed on the footswitch; Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 17, The side switch is locked in place by a locking pin assembled to the base which is secured in a detent in the side switch, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 17, The position of the side switch is visually indicated by a switch position indicator, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 17, The scaffold includes an elevated reference point for assisting the centering of the foot on the scaffold, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 17, The side switch can be adjusted to accommodate the fifth to 95th percentile male foot gates, with or without shoes, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 17, The heel cup prevents sliding by a plurality of locking pins mounted to the heel cup, the locking pins being assembled in a locking hole in the scaffold, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 17, The position of the heel cup is visually indicated by the position indicator, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 17, The heel cup can be adjusted to accommodate the fifth percentile to 95th percentile male foot count, with or without shoes, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 17, And further comprising a locking pin mounted to the scaffold assembled in the locking hole in the base to prevent operation of the switch and rotation of the scaffold when the scaffold is in a stationary non-pivot position. Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 17, The plunger is made of a relatively low friction material Surgical footswitch. a) the base, b) scaffold mounted to the base to pivot about a pivot axis, and c) a heel cup slidably retained on the footrest to adjustably increase or decrease the length of the footrest while maintaining the pivot axis directly in front of the ankle rotational axis of the user's foot, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 27, The heel cup is prevented from sliding by a plurality of locking pins mounted on the heel cup, the locking pin is assembled in the locking hole in the scaffold, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 27, The position of the heel cup is visually indicated by the position indicator, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 27, The scaffold includes an elevated reference point to assist in centering the foot on the scaffold, Surgical footswitch. The method of claim 27, The heel cup can be adjusted to accommodate the fifth percentile to 95th percentile male foot count, with or without shoes, Surgical footswitch.