Stryker Corporation

United Technologies Corporation

Michael G Hilldoerfer

Andrew J Hamel

Brannon P Wells

Salmaan Hameed

Vasudev Nambakam

William H L Chang

Michael D Baycura

Steffan A Benamou

Reid S Cover

Brady L Woolford

Jesse A Smith

Nikolai Chernyy

Jonathan Logan Miller

Wenjie Deng

Sean Darby

Braden M Robison

Pedro Javier Muniz-Medina

Kurt M Deutmeyer

Sean M Darby

A wireless foot control apparatus allows an operator to control multiple medical devices during an endoscopic medical procedure. The apparatus comprises a control console with controls designed for foot operation to control various medical devices. The controls include one or more foot pedals and foot switches to control the devices, including a selection switch to allow selection of the device to be controlled at a particular time. The console transmits signals over a wireless medium, to cause a remote receiver unit to select the device to be controlled and to control the selected device over a wired medium, in response to operation of the foot controls. The console may include a rechargeable battery, which may be sealed within the console's housing and charged inductively when the console is placed in a charging station. The receiver unit and the charging station can be separate units or integrated within a single housing.

Foot-operated control console for wirelessly controlling medical devices

A surgical pump system arrangement receives an inflow cassette and provides fluid flow to a surgical site in a joint of a patient. The arrangement calculates load coefficients for a pressure loss curve based on an identified inflow cannula and an identified endoscope utilized therewith. The arrangement determines if the cannula is disposed at a surgical site and if adequate fluid flow is provided. Further, the arrangement determines if the inflow cannula and endoscope are properly identified. The arrangement integrates with an identified or unidentified surgical device to adjust pump operation when the surgical device is operating. The arrangement maps actuators disposed on a surgical handpiece or footswitch to control operation of the pump system, including providing suction to an outflow path of a surgical device that is not operating. The arrangement also determines when an inflow pump cassette is not properly inserted into the pump.

Control for surgical fluid management pump system

A surgical tool arrangement including a powered handpiece which cooperates with a combined electrosurgical and mechanical cutting instrument. The electrosurgical and mechanical cutting instrument includes an outer static housing element which defines an electrode for delivering electrical energy to the surgical site, and a cutting element disposed within the outer housing and movable relative thereto for manipulating patient tissue. The electrosurgical and mechanical cutting instrument is an integral component attachable to the surgical tool to provide multiple functions in a single instrument, such as cauterization, ablation and mechanical cutting, without the need for attachment of additional housing structures or other adapters. The tool arrangement also includes a universal handpiece which is capable of accepting and operating a number of different surgical instruments, each having one or multiple functions.

Surgical tool arrangement

A surgical tool arrangement a handpiece which is capable of accepting and operating a number of different surgical tools or instruments adapted for use with the handpiece, each having one or multiple functions. The handpiece incorporates a coupling arrangement located at a distal end thereof which serves to attach the desired surgical instrument to the hand-piece via a locking mechanism, and also provides an electrical contact arrangement to support the functioning of an electrosurgical probe as well as a combined mechanical cutting and electrosurgical tool. Additionally, the handpiece accepts a conventional cutter which only requires power for driving a movable cutting element.

Surgical tool arrangement having a handpiece usable with multiple surgical tools

A mechanical face seal housing includes an annular seal-receiving section, a seal force transfer section that extends axially from the annular-seal receiving section, and an annular contact section axially spaced from the seal-receiving section. An annular spring between the contact section and a support wall provides a bias force against the contact section. The contact section transfers the bias force to the seal-receiving section to provide a sealing force between a graphitic carbon ring and a rotatable seal surface.

Mechanical face seal housing with spring wall

A system for providing wireless remote control over one or more devices. Included in the system is at least one wireless button that can be placed at various locations and which communicates with at least one sensor when the wireless button and sensor are brought within close proximity to one another. According to one embodiment, a wireless button can only be activated when the button is located within an authorized activation area. In another embodiment, a wireless button can only be activated by an authorized user. In yet a further embodiment, a wireless button can only be activated by an authorized user when the button is located within an authorized activation area.

Wireless hand-control of device by means of wireless button

A network system prevents portable wireless remote control consoles from unintended activation of a medical device by determining if the console is located in a working space within a medical care room. Transceiver locator devices determine the position of the remote control consoles and send information to room control units indicating when a console is within the desired working space. The room control unit receives signals from the remote control console in the working space to control medical devices. The room control unit can also determine which of multiple remote control consoles within the working space is permitted to operate the medical devices. Each room control unit can send a presence output to the remote control console to enable use thereof. The remote control console can have an orientation sensor or a grip detector to prevent unintended operation thereof.

System for preventing unintended activation of a medical device by a portable remote control console

A system and method for controlling one or more medical devices by a remote console. The remote console communicates wirelessly with a central control unit that connects to one or more of the medical devices. To conserve battery power and simplify operation, the remote console is configured to automatically power on and initiate a wireless connection in response to being brought into proximity of the central control unit. According to another embodiment, the remote console automatically powers on and terminates any previously established wireless connections when brought into proximity of the central control unit.

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 system for controlling one or more medical devices by a remote console. The remote console communicates wirelessly with a central control unit that connects to one or more of the medical devices. To minimize the possibility that a medical device will be activated by a stray or unauthorized wireless command signal, the central control unit must synchronize with the remote console and establish a secure communication link with it before the central control unit will respond to a wireless command signal transmitted by the remote console.

Apparatus and method for synchronizing a wireless remote control to a central control unit so as to allow remote control of a medical device over a secure wireless connection

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Michael G Hilldoerfer