Patent ID: 8149108

Claim:
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 having a battery and at least one user-operable control, the remote console configured to wirelessly transmit console command signals to the central control unit indicating a state of the at least one user-operable control for selectively controlling the at least two medical devices; an identification device associated with the remote console and programmed with an identification code unique to the remote console; an identification reader associated with the central control unit that 1) automatically wirelessly retrieves the identification code programmed in the identification device and 2) automatically synchronizes the central control unit and the remote console, using an electromagnetic field when the identification device is brought within a predetermined distance of the identification reader; and an activation circuit associated with the remote console separate from the identification device, the activation circuit automatically powering on the remote console with the battery, while the remote console is in an unpowered off state, in response to the inducement of an electrical current in the activation circuit by the electromagnetic field generated by the identification reader associated with the central control unit when the remote console is brought within a predetermined distance.