Method for Operating a Two-Stage Switch for Surgical Device
In a surgical device having a control device and a button operatively connected to the control device, the control device operative to carry out at least two operational conditions of the surgical device, a method for operating the surgical device comprising pressing a single actuation member of the button to a first depressed position to thereby effect a first of the at least two operational conditions and pressing the actuation member in substantially the same direction to a second depressed position to thereby effect a second of the at least two operational conditions different from the first operational condition.
1 . In a surgical device having a control device and a button operatively connected to the control device, the control device operative to carry out at least two operational conditions of the surgical device, a method for operating the surgical device comprising:
actuating the button in a button-actuation direction from an unactuated rest point to a first actuated position at a first distance from the rest point in the button-actuation direction, the first actuated position effecting a first of the at least two operational conditions; and
actuating the button in the button-actuation direction from the first actuated position to a second actuated position at a second distance further from the rest point in the button-actuation direction than the first distance, the second actuated position effecting a second of the at least two operational conditions different from the first operational condition.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a force required to enter the first actuated position is less than a force required to enter the second actuation position.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a force required to sustain the first actuated position is less than a force required to enter the second actuation position.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a force required to sustain the first actuated position is less than a force required to enter the first operational condition and the force required to enter the second operational condition is greater than the force required to sustain the first operational condition.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first operational condition is not disabled by actuation of the button from the first actuated position to the second actuation position.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is disposed at a handle of the surgical device, the handle having a self-contained power supply wherein the control device is operative to control the amount of power delivered from the power supply.
7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the first operational condition is power delivered from the power supply.
8 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the second operational condition is power delivered from the power supply.
9 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein:
the second operational condition is power delivered from the power supply; and
the amount of power delivered in the first operational condition is different from the amount of power delivered in the second operational condition.
10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the amount of power delivered in the first operational condition is less than the amount of power delivered in the second operational condition.
11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein:
the control device has a circuit; and
the button further comprises at least one electrical contact that electrically closes the circuit to effect at least one of the at least two operational conditions.
12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first actuated position is a partially depressed state of the button.
13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second actuated position is a fully depressed state of the button.
14 . The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises providing the button with:
a two-position switch; and
a plunger coupled to the two-position switch and operable to change positions of the two-position switch when pressure is applied to the plunger.
15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the two-position switch is comprised of at least a first sub-switch and a second sub-switch, the first sub-switch effecting the first actuated position and the second sub-switch effecting the second actuated position.
16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the first and second sub-switches are operatively connected in a stacked configuration.
17 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a variable amount of pressure is applied to the button to cause the button to change between positions.
18 . In a surgical device having a control device and a button operatively connected to the control device, the control device operative to carry out at least two operational conditions of the surgical device, a method for operating the surgical device comprising:
pressing a single actuation member of the button to a first depressed position to thereby effect a first of the at least two operational conditions; and
pressing the actuation member in substantially the same direction to a second depressed position to thereby effect a second of the at least two operational conditions different from the first operational condition.
19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein:
a force required to enter the first depressed position is less than a force required to enter the second depressed position; and
a force required to sustain the first depressed position is less than a force required to enter the second depressed position.
20 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein a force required to sustain the first depressed position is less than a force required to enter the first operational condition and the force required to enter the second operational condition is greater than the force required to sustain the first operational condition.
21 . In a surgical device having a control device and a button operatively connected to the control device, the control device operative to carry out at least two operational conditions of the surgical device, a method for operating the surgical device comprising:
pressing a single actuation member of the button to a first depressed position thereby placing the button in a first actuated position to effect a first of the at least two operational conditions; and
pressing the actuation member in substantially the same direction to a second depressed position thereby placing the button in a second actuated position to effect a second of the at least two operational conditions different from the first operational condition.
22 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein:
the first actuation position is a partially depressed state of the actuation member; and
the second actuation position is a fully depressed state of the actuation member.