Patent ID: 8380126

Claim:
A method for managing communications between a plurality of medical devices, comprising: providing a wireless connection between at least two medical devices, the at least two medical devices comprising a primary medical device and a secondary medical device, wherein the primary medical device comprises a footpedal; causing the primary medical device to search for and establish a plurality of communication channels including a primary communication channel and at least one secondary communication channel; causing the primary medical device to transmit and the secondary medical device to receive signals wirelessly across the plurality of communication data channels, wherein each secondary communication channel provides redundant communications to communications transmitted over the primary communication channel, wherein the primary medical device transmits a set of data over the primary communication channel when the primary communication channel is operational and transmits the set of data over one secondary communication channel when the one secondary communication channel is operational; monitoring health and status of the plurality of communication data channels and alternating communication data channels based on observed channel quality; and generating and reporting an independent redundant fail safe trigger from the footpedal to a wireless controller, wherein when the primary communication channel and the at least one secondary communication channel are not communicating adequately, the independent fail safe trigger causes one selected from the group consisting of: shutdown of at least one medical device; and providing user notification of communication inadequacy.