Foot controller for microsurgical system

1. A method of operating a foot controller of a microsurgical system, comprising the steps of:

providing a microsurgical system, said system comprising:

a computer; and

a foot controller operatively coupled to said computer, said foot controller having a foot pedal with a range of motion, said range of motion having a first area indicative of a first surgical mode of said microsurgical system and a second area indicative of a second surgical mode of said microsurgical system, said first and second areas separated by a detent; and

using said computer to modulate said detent by varying a resistance felt by a user's foot as said foot presses on said foot pedal, wherein said varying of said resistance comprises increasing said resistance a first time, decreasing said resistance, and increasing said resistance a second time within said detent.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said varying of said resistance occurs at a given frequency from the beginning of said detent to an end of said detent.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said frequency may be selected by said user.

4. A method of operating a foot controller of a microsurgical system, comprising the steps of:

providing a microsurgical system, said system comprising:

a computer;

a foot controller operatively coupled to said computer, said foot controller having a foot pedal with a range of motion and a shaft defining an axis of rotation, said range of motion having a first area indicative of a first surgical mode of said microsurgical system and a second area indicative of a second surgical mode of said microsurgical system, said first and second areas separated by a detent; and

a force feedback motor mechanically coupled to said shaft;

using said force feedback motor to apply a first torque to said shaft that opposes a second torque applied to said shaft by a user's foot as said foot presses on said foot pedal; and

using said computer to modulate said detent by varying said first torque, wherein said varying of said first torque comprises increasing said first torque a first time, decreasing said first torque, and increasing said first torque a second time within said detent.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said varying of said first torque occurs at a given frequency from the beginning of said detent to an end of said detent.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said frequency may be selected by said user.

7. A method of operating a foot controller of a microsurgical system, comprising the steps of:

providing a microsurgical system, said system comprising:

a computer; and

a foot controller operatively coupled to said computer, said foot controller having a foot pedal with a range of motion, said range of motion having a first area indicative of a first surgical mode of said microsurgical system and a second area indicative of a second surgical mode of said microsurgical system, said first and second areas separated by a detent; and

using said computer to modulate said detent by varying a resistance felt by a user's foot as said foot presses on said foot pedal, wherein said varying of said resistance comprises decreasing said resistance a first time, increasing said resistance, and decreasing said resistance a second time within said detent.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said varying of said resistance occurs at a given frequency from the beginning of said detent to an end of said detent.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said frequency may be selected by said user.

10. A method of operating a foot controller of a microsurgical system, comprising the steps of:

providing a microsurgical system, said system comprising:

a computer;

a foot controller operatively coupled to said computer, said foot controller having a foot pedal with a range of motion and a shaft defining an axis of rotation, said range of motion having a first area indicative of a first surgical mode of said microsurgical system and a second area indicative of a second surgical mode of said microsurgical system, said first and second areas separated by a detent; and

a force feedback motor mechanically coupled to said shaft;

using said force feedback motor to apply a first torque to said shaft that opposes a second torque applied to said shaft by a user's foot as said foot presses on said foot pedal; and

using said computer to modulate said detent by varying said first torque, wherein said varying of said first torque comprises decreasing said first torque a first time, increasing said first torque, and decreasing said first torque a second time within said detent.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said varying of said first torque occurs at a given frequency from the beginning of said detent to an end of said detent.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said frequency may be selected by said user.