BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view similar to that of FIG. 1 but with the reservoir and collection tank omitted;
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the novel foot pedal;
FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the novel foot pedal;
FIG. 3C is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the novel foot pedal;
FIG. 3D is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the novel foot pedal;
FIG. 3E is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the novel foot pedal;
FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the novel foot pedal base;
FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the novel foot pedal base;
FIG. 4C is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the novel foot pedal base;
FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the underside of the novel foot support;
FIG. 5B is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the underside of the novel foot support;
FIG. 5C is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the underside of the novel foot support;
FIG. 6A is a longitudinal sectional view depicting the valve assembly that is opened and closed by the novel foot pedal;
FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the valve assembly of FIG. 6A;
FIG. 6C is an elevational view depicting the valve assembly of FIGS. 6A and 6B when installed in the base of the novel foot pedal;
FIG. 7A is a diagrammatic top plan view of a second embodiment of the valve assembly;
FIG. 7B is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the second embodiment of the valve assembly;
FIG. 7C is a diagrammatic front elevational view of the second embodiment of the valve assembly;
FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 8B is a side elevational view of said third embodiment;
FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the third embodiment with the foot support removed;
FIG. 9B is a perspective view like FIG. 9A but with the lever and related parts removed; and
FIG. 9C is a top plan view of the parts depicted in FIG. 9B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to FIG. 1, there it will be seen that the novel system is denoted as a whole by the reference numeral 10.
The interior of waste-collection tank 12 is under suction, i.e., a suitable vacuum pump, not shown, is employed to maintain said interior below atmospheric pressure. Hose or tubing 14 provides fluid communication between tank 12 and an outlet port of novel foot pedal 16. Hose or tubing 18 provides fluid communication between an inlet port of foot pedal 16 and outlet stopcock 32 of camera 20, and hose or tubing 22 provides fluid communication between inlet stopcock of 30 camera 20 and a source of sterile solution 24, 24.
Instead of maintaining tank 12 under negative pressure, positive pressure pump 26 may be positioned between sterile solution 24 and inlet stopcock 30.
Foot pedal 16 is the actuator for a normally closed valve, not depicted in FIG. 1, that prevents flow of sterile solution from source 24 when said valve is in its closed position of repose. When actuated by a surgeon's foot, said normally closed valve opens and the pressure in hose 22, and the suction in hose 14, causes flow of sterile solution 24 through camera 20 and into waste collection tank 12.
FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but omits collection tank 12 and reservoir 24. Camera 20 is connected to sheath 28. Hose 22 is connected to inlet stopcock 30 and hose 18 is connected to outlet stopcock 32. In the prior art, inlet stopcock 30 is left open and the surgeon manually opens and closes outlet stopcock 32 as needed during the course of a procedure. Such opening and closing requires the surgeon to put down a surgical tool to free up a hand to manipulate the stopcock. In the novel system, both the inlet stopcock 30 and the outlet stopcock 32 are in their respective fully open configurations for the duration of the procedure. However, the check valve in foot pedal 16 is normally closed so no solution flows even when said stopcocks are open. When fluid flow is desired, the surgeon steps on foot pedal 16, thereby opening the normally closed valve therewithin and enabling flow of sterile solution 24 until the foot is lifted from pedal 16 at which time a spring or other suitable bias means returns the pedal to its normally closed position of repose and fluid flow is terminated. Thus there is no need for the surgeon to put a surgical tool down and to pick it back up again to manipulate a stopcock.
No further disclosure is required to enable those of ordinary skill in the mechanical arts to make and use the invention. Foot pedal 16 can be made in many different ways, and all such ways are within the scope of this invention.
One way of making foot pedal 16 depicted in FIG. 3A. Flat foot-support 34 is pivotally connected to stationary base 36. Surface 35 of foot support 34 is textured to supply a high coefficient of friction to enable rocking motion of foot support 34 about base 36 in the substantial absence of foot slippage.
The width of foot support 34 is increased in FIG. 3B relative to the width thereof in FIG. 3A.
FIG. 3C depicts another alternative embodiment of foot pedal 16. The surface area of the foot support surface 34 is increased to facilitate placement of a user's foot.
FIG. 3D also depicts an alternative embodiment of foot pedal 16. More particularly, FIG. 3D depicts foot pedal 16 of reduced size, enabling the placement of foot pedal 16 in tighter spaces.
FIG. 3E depicts yet another alternative embodiment of foot pedal 16. As will be better understood in connection with FIGS. 4A-C, and FIGS. 5A-C that follow, the hinged connection between foot support 34 and base 36 is positioned at the proximal end of pedal 16 as distinguished from the distal end as in the other embodiments. Moreover, notch 37 formed in opposing sidewalls of foot support 36 accommodates a valve assembly disclosed hereinafter.
FIG. 4A depicts base 36 in increased detail. Openings 50, 50 accommodate the respective ends of rubber hose attachments 46, 48, disclosed hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 6A-C, that abut opposite ends of rubber tubing 44, also disclosed in connection with said FIGS. 6A-C. Transversely spaced apart clips 52, of which there are two, are formed integrally with base 36 and snugly receive said rubber tubing 44. Springs 54, 54 return foot support 34 to its position of repose when the surgeon's foot is separated from said foot support, thereby causing a check ball, disclosed hereinafter, to return to its annular valve seat so that solution flow terminates in the absence of manual manipulation of the stopcock. Hinge pin 56 is formed integrally with base 38 at its highest end.
In an alternative embodiment of base 36 depicted in FIG. 4B, cover 39 covers the open lower end of said base, leaving clips 52 and hinge pin 56 uncovered. Springs 54 are positioned on the interior of the opposing vertical sidewalls of the base. Said springs return foot support 34 to its undepressed position of repose when released by the user as aforesaid. The opposing sides of the base are embossed “IN” and “OUT” as appropriate adjacent openings 50.
FIG. 4C depicts another alternative embodiment of base 36. It has a relatively narrow structure and is used with a narrow foot support, such as depicted in FIG. 5C. Base 36 includes a pair of knobs 47 that extend into the hollow interior of base 36 from its opposing vertical sidewalls. Rubber bands to aid in the opening of foot support 34 are secured to said knobs 47. Base 36 further includes retaining clips 49 (not shown in drawing), for the valve assembly, positioned adjacent openings 50 that accommodate the inlet and outlet tubes of the valve assembly. Base 36 further includes stop 54 for limiter 62 that forms a part of the foot support embodiment of FIG. 5C.
FIG. 5A depicts the underside of a first embodiment of foot support 34. Socket 58 formed integrally with said underside of said foot support snugly and rotationally receives hinge pin 56 of base 36 to thereby provide the pivotal or rocking motion between foot support 34 and base 36.
Valve actuator 60 is formed integrally with foot support 34 and depends from an underside thereof. A pair of limiters 62 are also integrally formed with said foot support on said underside; said limiters limit the separation between foot support 34 and base 36 when said foot support is in its position of repose. A user will typically rest his or her foot on or near foot pedal 16 during the surgical procedure. The user will begin depression of the pedal with a foot by applying pressure to textured surface 35 of foot support 34 when the user's field of vision is obscured. Upon said depression of foot pedal 16, valve actuator 60 abuts against an annular valve seat disclosed hereinafter to unseat a check ball from said valve seat so that sterile fluid from reservoir 24 may purge the surgical site.
A problem arises if valve actuator 60 over-compresses the valve assembly. More particularly, excess compression can shut the valve off completely. Various solutions to this problem include limiting the depth, or altering the shape of valve actuator 60, or both as depicted in FIG. 5B to ensure the actuator does not over compress the valve. Upon relief of pressure on foot support 34, it separates from base 36 and actuator 60 withdraws from its abutting contact with the valve assembly. A spring, disclosed hereinafter, returns foot pedal 16 to its position of repose, resulting in the suction on the fluid terminating with respect to the fluid at the field of view. In this manner the fluid in the field of view is purged.
FIG. 5B depicts an alternative embodiment of foot support 36 as mentioned above. Valve actuator 60a is modified by rounding off sharp edges from its periphery where it contacts the top of the valve assembly and its depth is reduced to prevent over-compression of the valve.
FIG. 5C illustrates another alternative embodiment of foot support 34. It also includes a pair of limiters 62 that limits the upward separation of foot support 34 from base 36. Each limiter 62 abuts stop 55 of base 36 as depicted in FIG. 4C. Supports 61 strengthen valve actuator 60.
FIG. 6A depicts valve assembly 39 that includes check ball 38 held against annular valve seat 40 by spring 42. Radially inwardly-extending valve seat 40 is formed integrally with rubber tubing 44. Check ball 38 and spring 42 are positioned within the lumen of said rubber tubing 44. The length of rubber tubing 44 is substantially equal to the width of base 36. First rubber hose attachment 46 abuts a first end of rubber tubing 44 and second rubber hose attachment 48 abuts an opposite, second end of rubber tubing 44. Moreover, first rubber hose attachment 46 ensleeves inlet hose 18 and second rubber hose attachment 48 ensleeves outlet hose 14. When the foot pedal is depressed, valve actuator 60 or 60a bears against annular valve seat 40 and distorts it into an oblong or other non-annular configuration so that liquid fluid leaks around spherical ball valve 38.
FIG. 6B depicts valve assembly 39 when not installed on foot pedal 16 and FIG. 6C depicts the valve assembly when installed on base 36 of foot pedal 16.
FIGS. 7A-C depict a second embodiment of the novel valve system structure in top, side, and front views, respectively. This novel structure includes outlet and inlet connectors 14, 18, respectively, arranged in parallel relation to one another on the same side of pedal 16 as illustrated in FIG. 7A. Specifically, outlet and inlet tubes 14, 18 are positioned at the distal end of foot pedal 16, i.e., in a location remote to the toes of a user. This arrangement reduces the clutter of the lines around the user's feet and therefore provides a greater degree of safety.
As perhaps best understood in connection with FIG. 7C, spring 70 urges washer 72 upwardly. Nut 74 limits the maximum expansion of said spring 70. Spring 70 ensleeves post 76 which is supported by boss 78. Post 76 is displaced downwardly when foot support 34 is depressed, thereby loading spring 70. Check valve 80, sealed by rubber O-ring 82, is unseated from annular valve seat 84 when said post is depressed, thereby allowing sterile fluid to flow from reservoir 24 to collection tank 12 as indicated by the plurality of flow arrows.
FIGS. 8A-B and 9A-D depict a third embodiment, denoted 90 as a whole. Foot pedal 90 includes base 92 and foot support 94 that are hingedly connected to one another along a top or distal edge thereof.
As best understood in connection with FIGS. 9A-D, this embodiment eliminates the ball check valve of the first and second embodiments. Truncate tube 96 is formed of a compressible, flexible and resilient material such as rubber, elastomeric plastic or the like and is attached at its opposite ends to tube mounts 98a, 98b (FIGS. 9B-C) and as depicted in FIG. 9A, tube 96 is pinched and normally closed by spring-loaded lever 100. Transversely disposed pin 102 extends through lever 100 and the opposite ends of said pin are rotatably retained by transversely spaced apart retainers 104a, 104b. Spring 106 or other suitable bias means provides constant upward pressure on the trailing end 100a of lever 100 so that leading end 100b of lever 100 bears downwardly against tube 96, thereby pinching it so that no liquid fluid can flow through said tube. A suitable, preferably bulbous, protrusion having a linear extent greater than the diameter of tube 96 is formed on the underside of leading end 100b to facilitate the pinching action.
As best understood in connection with FIG. 8B, valve actuator 60 depends from an underside of foot pedal 94 and abuttingly engages trailing end 100a or lever 100 so that full depression of said foot support 94 lifts leading end 100b of lever 100 from truncate tube 96 so that liquid fluid may flow therethrough. A physician controls the rate of fluid flow by manipulating the amount of compression of spring 106. A shallow recess 106a (FIGS. 9B-C) is formed in a bottom wall of base 92 to accept a lower end of said spring.
Tube mounts 98a, 98b are housed in housings 99a, 99b and have a ninety degree (90°) bend formed in them as best understood in connection with FIG. 9B. The respective ends 98c, 98d of said mounting tubes that do not engage truncate tube 96 are flush with the distal end of base 92 and are concentrically positioned within countersunk openings 108a, 108b. Inlet hose 18 is thus easily connected to tube mount 98c and outlet hose 14 is easily connected to tube mount 98d. This is the same connection made in the embodiment of FIGS. 7A-C.
Pedals 16 or 90 can be made of reasonably inexpensive components, thus making it suitable for disposal following a single surgical procedure. Valve assembly 39 can be single use as well. Pedal 16 may also be sterilized and a new valve added after each procedure.
It will be seen that the advantages set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.
Patent Application
20080072970
