Abstract:
A wireless control device for controlling, with a human foot, an apparatus for multiple surgical functions. The device includes a base having small dimensions, at least two modules mounted on the base for generating specific control signals for each of the surgical functions, a transmitter for transmitting the control signals, a receiver receiving the control signals, a source of electricity for supplying the transmitter with electrical current, and two actuators, actuated by the human foot and pivotally mounted to act simultaneously on the corresponding module, the transmitter, and the source of electricity. The actuators are pivotally mounted around respective axes that are perpendicular to each other.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application relates to a wireless control device for controlling, with a foot, an apparatus for different surgical functions. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the surgical field, in general, and in the field of dental surgery, in particular, practitioners use apparatuses equipped with switches or interrupters which may be actuated with the foot. Indeed, for certain interventions, it is required, or, at the very least, recommended, to use appliances such a, for example, microscopes, UV lamps, and many other appliances, that the practitioner should be able to start, adjust, and stop himself/herself. An example is the focusing and displacement of a microscope by which the practitioner observes the object on which he/she intervenes. As his/her hands are occupied with the gestures of the operation, there only remains the use of the foot for controlling the apparatus. 
     Thus, pedal controls with one or several pedals have been developed. These controls have been connected to the apparatus to be controlled through a cable and were further connected through another cable to a current outlet or to another type of electricity source. 
     However, certain operations require that the practitioner be able to move during the operation. In this case, the presence of cables may be bothersome or even dangerous when the practitioner has to move with the apparatus in his/her hand. For this reason, wireless controls were developed. They are designed in order to send radio-electric or optical signals to the apparatus to be controlled which decodes them and carries out the required tasks. An example is described in document U.S. Pat. No. 7,428,439. 
     But since the interventions may last for a rather long time, one must be sure that the electric power supply of these wireless controls may be ensured during this long period of time. 
     One means for managing this is to use electronic modules with low electrical power consumption, which consequently have small dimensions. An additional means is to use as a source of electricity means for generating electricity at the moment when the transmitter of the wireless control needs it. Such a source of electricity also has small dimensions. 
     The problem which is posed for designing a control device meeting the different requirements listed above, consisted of combining miniaturization of the wireless control, strictly speaking, with the robustness and large dimensions required for foot actuation and notably for blind actuation, i.e., without the practitioner needing to concentrate on specifically laying his/her foot on either one of the actuators of the wireless control, so as to not divert his/her attention from the main task, namely the surgical operation. 
     Indeed, when the device to be controlled only has two functions and is further not subject to constraints in dimensions and energy such as those listed above, a control device with two pedals, mounted one beside the other and spaced from each other, may be actuated without any risk of confusing the pedals, and without risking accidental actuation of one of the actuators at the moment when the other actuator is targeted. 
     However, when control means of small dimensions have to be actuated by means of members adapted to the dimensions and stiffness of the shoes of a practitioner, the solutions used before the invention are not satisfactory. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The problem is solved by a wireless control device for controlling, with the foot, an apparatus for multiple surgical functions, the device comprising, mounted on a base, at least two modules for generating a specific control signal for each of the surgical functions, a transmitter for transmitting the control signal to a receiver of the apparatus, and a source of electricity for supplying electrical power to the transmitter, the modules, wherein the transmitter and the electricity source are gathered together in a receiving base of small dimensions, for example with a side of the order of 3-4 cm, and at least two actuators individually actuated by the foot and pivotally mounted for simultaneously acting on the module, the transmitter, and the source of electricity. 
     According to the invention, both actuators are pivotally mounted around two axes that are perpendicular to each other and a control device comprises a mobile connecting plate interposed between one of the actuators and the base gathering the modules, the transmitter, and the source of electricity. 
     With the arrangements of the invention it is possible to position two or more actuators so that their tilting or pivot axes are very close to each other, which corresponds to the condition of being able to act on a set of elements of small dimensions, and nevertheless use actuators of large dimensions, the supporting surfaces of which for the foot are sufficiently far from each other so that the practitioner may press on them with his/her foot without any risk of confusion. 
     Advantageously, one of the actuators is mounted so as to tilt around a first axis and the connecting plate is mounted so as to tilt around a second axis which is different from the first axis and arranged parallel to the first axis. Both axes are then arranged perpendicularly to the axis of the other actuator, or to the axis of each of the other actuators, if, for example, there are a total of three actuators. 
     In other words, when the control device comprises three or more modules for generating a specific control signal for each of the surgical applications, it comprises a third actuator for directly and simultaneously trigger the corresponding module, the transmitter, and the source of electricity when a specific control signal has to be generated and transmitted to the apparatus. The third actuator is then pivotally mounted around an axis parallel to the axis of the one of the two other actuators which actuates the corresponding module without any interposed connecting plate. 
     Depending on the selected embodiment of the device of the invention, the actuator, with which is associated the connecting plate, comprises a remote tray acting on the connecting plate to trigger via the corresponding module, the transmitter and the source of electricity, simultaneously, when a specific control signal has to be generated and transmitted to the apparatus. 
     The base on which the actuators are mounted occupies a surface with a side of the order of 20 cm. 
     The module(s) for generating a specific control signal for each of the surgical applications, the transmitter, and the source of electricity are either individual means that can be placed together in the receiving base or integrated into a single element or casing, the dimensions of which correspond to those of the receiving base. 
     By applying the last mentioned characteristic, it is possible to make a compact pedal control device with a risk as small as possible of the practitioner pressing on both pedals at the same time. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES 
       Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of an embodiment hereafter, with reference to the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates, in a three quarter view, an embodiment of the invention in the form of a control device with pedals, 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the bottom element of the device of the invention, 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the actuators in a three quarter view from the inner side of the device, 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the tilting actuator in a three quarter view, 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the tilting actuator of the device of the invention, and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the central actuator in a three quarter view from the inner side of the device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawings, and notably in the assembled condition in  FIG. 1 , the control device according to the invention comprises a base  1  through which the device of the invention may rest on a floor, a first tilting actuator  2 , a second actuator  3 , a third actuator  4  pivotally mounted, and a bow  5  attached on the base  1  and allowing a practitioner to displace the control device during an operation by lifting it and transporting with his/her foot. The shape of the control device is approximately that of a body having a semi-circular bottom on which the actuators rise in the form of terraces. 
     As shown by  FIG. 2 , the base  1  essentially has the shape of a semi-circular bottom plate  11  with a slightly curved rear edge  12 , two approximately planar left  13  and right  14  side edges and a curved front edge  15 , the height of which is less than that of the three other edges  12  to  14 . 
     Let us note in this context that the orientation indications such as front, rear, high, and low appearing in the present description refer to the position of use of the device as visible in  FIG. 1 . 
     The base advantageously comprises, but not necessarily, masses  6 ,  7  having sufficient weight for giving the control device, notably when the base and the actuators are made of a plastic material, a good stable base, avoiding as far as possible any untimely displacement of the control device. 
     The base  1  also comprises an internal base  8  for receiving an electronic unit  9  which allows an electrical control signal to be generated and transmitted towards an apparatus controlled by this control device. This unit  9  is actuated by the actuators  2  to  4 , as this will be described later on. 
     The base  1  further comprises an axle  16  through which the actuator  2  is mounted to the base  1  so as to be able to tilt over and an axle  18  through which the actuator  4  is pivotally mounted to the base  1 . The axle  16  is inserted in two orifices, one of which, referenced as  17 , is located in the rear wall  12  of the base  1  and the other one of which (not shown) is located in a rear wall of the internal base  8 . The axle  18  is inserted into two orifices  19 ,  20  located in the side walls  13 ,  14  of the base  1 . Now it is immediately seen that the axle  16  is perpendicular to the axle  18 . 
     According to an alternative not shown, the tilting actuator  2  may be replaced with two actuators pivotally mounted in opposite directions around two axes arranged perpendicularly to the axle  18 . Such an arrangement, although more complex than the described embodiment, would also allow a compact design of the control device of the invention. 
     The base  1  moreover comprises supports  21 ,  22  for helicoidal springs (not shown) putting the actuator  2  back into the rest position when the practitioner does not press on it, supports  23 ,  24  for helicoidal springs (not shown) putting the actuator  4  back into the rest position, and a support  25  for a helicoidal spring (not shown) putting the actuator  3  back into the rest position. 
     The base  1  finally comprises two arms  26 ,  27  rising perpendicularly upwards on the bottom  11  and each having an upper protrusion and a lower protrusion. The upper protrusions,  FIG. 2  only showing the protrusion  28  of the arm  27 , are used together as a pivot axle for the actuator  3 . And the lower protrusions,  FIG. 2  only showing the protrusion  29 , are used as upward movement limiters when the actuator  3  is pushed into the rest position by the corresponding spring. According to the illustrated embodiment, the arms  26 ,  27  are placed side-by-side at the internal base  8 . 
     In order to be able to attach the bow  5  on the base  1 , the rear wall  12  of the latter is provided with two apertures  121 ,  122  through which the bow is introduced. The free ends of the bow  5  are then housed in spaces  31 ,  32  respectively defined by ribs  33 ,  34 , and  35 ,  36 . A rib  37 , approximately parallel to the rear wall  12  of the base  1  is used for limiting the downward tilt of the actuator  4 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the actuators  2  to  4  from below, i.e., upside down, showing their lower faces in a mounting arrangement with the axles  16  and  18  respectively for the tilting of the actuator  2  and for the tilting of the actuator  4 . Each of these three actuators includes a hollow body, opening downwards, with a wall, i.e. upper surface, on which the practitioner presses with his/her foot and with side walls depending from the upper surfaces. 
     Thus, as shown in more detail in  FIG. 4 , the tilting actuator  2  comprises an approximately planar supporting wall  41  with, on the upper face, supporting surfaces  41 A,  41 B on which the practitioner presses for triggering a control signal. The actuator  2  further comprises rear wall  42 , front wall  43 , right wall  44  and left wall  45  which approximately extend perpendicularly from the wall  41 . The rear wall  42  and front wall  43  are provided with protrusions  46 ,  47  in which are made orifices  48 ,  49  receiving the axle  16 . 
     The actuator  2  also comprises a remote tray  50  extending horizontally from the front wall  43  and including on its lower face, ribs  51 ,  52  formed at the ends of the tray and oriented parallel to the axle  16 , as well as a central rib  53  also oriented parallel to the axle  16 . 
     A connecting plate  60  bears on its lower face two central profusions  61 ,  62 , which form the tilting axis of this plate, ribs  63 ,  64  on one side of the tilting axis and ribs  65 ,  66  on the other side. The connecting plate  60  is matched with the tray  50 . It is through these ribs that the actuator  2 /connecting plate  60  assembly acts on the electronic unit  9  in order to trigger control signals, as explained with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
     Indeed, in order to obtain a compact control device while minimizing the risk that the practitioner accidentally presses on two actuators at one time, the device comprises an electronic unit  9  laid out in a casing having length and width of the order of 3 to 4 cm while the control device occupies a surface with a side of the order of 20 cm. According to the embodiment illustrated, the electronic unit  9  comprises four modules, each module having a pair of contactors for generating a specific control signal for each of the provided surgical functions of the controlled apparatus. Two of these four modules are illustrated by two contactors  91  that are visible in  FIG. 2  and by two contactors  92 . Only one of the contactors  92  is visible in  FIG. 2 , the other contactor  92  being located on the opposite side of the electronic unit  9  from the visible contactor  92 . A further pair of modules, including respective pairs of contactors  91  and  92 , connected upon the tilting of the actuator  2 , as described below, are not visible in the figures because of the presence of other elements of the control device that obscure those other two modules of the electronic unit  9 . 
     In order to trigger respective modules of the electronic unit  9 , the actuator  2 /connecting plate  60  assembly and each of the actuators  3 ,  4  include means to press on a pair of the contactors  91  and  92  of a respective one of the modules. These means are basically visible in  FIG. 3  for actuators  3  and  4  and illustrated in detail in  FIG. 5  for actuator  2 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the tilting actuator  2 /connecting plate  60  assembly in a front view in the mounting position with respect to the electronic unit  9 . This figure more particularly shows the position of the axle  16  of the tilting actuator  2  and protrusions  61 ,  62  of the connecting plate  60 . 
     As it is not reasonably possible to superpose, even in a terrace arrangement, more than two actuators, in this case, the actuators  3  and  4  dedicated to the signal generating contactors  91 , a solution had to be found in order to actuate both of the rear signal generating modules which are not visible in the figures. The solution found is the one visible in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , i.e., orient the axle of the actuator  2  perpendicular to the axles of the actuators  3 ,  4  and to place the actuator  2  immediately behind the actuator  4 . 
     According to the illustrated embodiment, the rear modules are indirectly actuated by a respective one of the two opposite ends of the tilting actuator  2 . 
     Indeed, the actuator  2  does not act itself on the rear modules, but by the off-axis arrangement of its axle  16 , i.e., moves the plate  50  to and fro along a path in the form of a circular arc. In this way, the tray  50  slides on the connecting plate  60  and causes it to tilt in one direction or the other. Thus, by pressing on the right end of the tilting actuator  2 , the tray  50  slides towards the right and causes the connecting plate  60  to tilt towards the right, which causes the ribs  63 ,  64  to press on the contactors  91  and  92  of the right rear module, of the electronic unit  9 , i.e., one of the modules that is not visible in  FIG. 2 . Likewise, the fact of pressing on the left end of the actuator  2  causes the connecting plate  60  to press on the contactors  91  and  92  of the left rear module of the electronic unit  9 , i.e., one of the modules that is not visible in  FIG. 2 . The return of the actuator  2  to the rest position is ensured by two helicoidal springs (not shown) maintained between the supports  21 ,  22  of the base  1  and corresponding supports  71 ,  72  on the lower face of the wall  41  of the actuator  2 . 
     As shown in more detail in  FIG. 6 , the actuator  3  comprises an approximately planar supporting wall  81  on which the practitioner presses in order to trigger a control signal. The actuator  3  further comprises a rear wall  82 , two approximately planar side walls  83 ,  84  and a curved front wall  85  which approximately extend perpendicularly from the wall  81 . The side walls  83 ,  84  are provided with orifices  86 ,  87  receiving the protrusions  28  of the arms  26 ,  27  of the base  1 . The protrusions  28  form the pivot axis of the actuator  3 . The actuator is also provided with a central protrusion  88  extending downwards from the rear wall  82  and used as an additional limiter of an upward movement, in addition to the protrusions  29  of the arms  26 ,  27 , when the actuator  3  is pushed into the rest position by the spring. In the rest position of the actuators  2  and  3 , the protrusion  88  remains slightly above the upper face of the tray  50  of the tilting actuator  2 . 
     The actuator  3  directly acts on the contactor  91  on the right front module of the electronic unit  9 , as seen in  FIG. 2 , and is superposed to the actuator  4  which directly acts on the of the left front module of the electronic unit  9  as seen in  FIG. 2 . Consequently, the actuator  3  does not include any ribs simultaneously acting on the contactor  91  and the corresponding contactor  92  but has fingers  76 ,  77  for this purpose and located inside the actuator  3 . According to the illustrated embodiment, but by no means in a limiting way, the fingers  76 ,  77  extend from the wall on which the practitioner presses, perpendicularly downwards inside the actuator  3  and cross the actuator  4  through an aperture provided for the purpose. Return to the rest position of this actuator is ensured by a helicoidal spring (not shown) maintained between the support  25  of the base  1  and a support  73  of the actuator  3 . 
     As shown in more detail in  FIG. 3 , the actuator  4  comprises a supporting wall  101  on which the practitioner presses in order to trigger a control signal. The actuator  4  further comprises rear walls  102 ,  103  interrupted by a bow  107  and a curved front wall  104  provided on the left and right sides, close to the rear walls  102 ,  103 , with orifices  105 ,  106  receiving the pivot axle  18 . 
     The actuator  4  includes, in its middle, a wide and arched groove  90  (seen from below in  FIG. 3 ), the shape and the dimensions of which receive the actuator  3  therein. In order to directly act on the contactors  91 ,  92  at the left front signal generating module of the electronic unit  9 , as seen in  FIG. 2 , the actuator  4  is provided with a rib  78  and with staging  79 . 
     The return to the rest position of this actuator is ensured by a helicoidal spring (not shown) maintained between the supports  23 ,  24  of the base  1  and the supports  74 ,  75  of the actuator  4 . 
     The bow  107  is a possible embodiment of an upward movement limiter intervening, by bearing upon the ribs  34 ,  35  of the base  1 , when the actuator  4  is pushed into the rest position by the springs. Optionally, the bow  107  may be provided with protrusions  108  extending here and there the bow downwards. 
     As regards the use and the operation of the control device, the practitioner may individually press on each end of the tilting actuator  2  and on the actuators  3  and  4  with the same position of the device close to the floor and without any risk of inadvertently pressing on both actuators at the same time. Further, the electronic unit  9  and, more particularly, each of the signal generating modules, may be programmed in different ways in order to be able to generate more different signals than there are modules in the unit  9 . Thus, for example, the signal generated by a module may vary according to the number of times the practitioner presses rapidly on the corresponding actuator. The presented example of four signal generating modules is therefore not to be considered as a limitation. Subsequently, each signal is forwarded towards the transmitter which is powered by the source of electricity simultaneously with the module or with a slight shift.