Control unit for a medical device
A control unit for a medical device that includes a palm interface engageable by a palm of a hand and a restraint capable of elastically deforming to apply a restraining force to the dorsum of the hand and a finger interface engageable by one or more fingers of said hand.
1. A control unit for a medical device, the control unit comprising a user interface including a first interface being mounted on a pivotal support attached to a housing of the control unit, said first interface being engageable by a palm of a hand and being operable to tilt forward-backward and right-left without requiring use of any fingers of said hand and a restraint being pivotally attached to said first interface and having an element for partially surrounding said hand and being capable of elastically deforming to apply a restraining force to a back of said hand when said palm is engaged with said first interface.
2. The control unit of claim 1 , wherein said pivotal support is gimbaled.
3. The control unit of claim 1 , wherein said housing of the control unit includes a drive unit.
4. The control unit of claim 1 , further comprising a second interface being pivotally attached to said first interface and being operable via thumb and index finger of said hand.
5. The control unit of claim 1 , wherein said first interface can be tilted with respect to said pivotal support.
6. The control unit of claim 5 , wherein tilting of said first interface deflects a steerable portion of the medical device.
7. The control unit of claim 4 , wherein said second interface operate an effector end of the medical device.
8. The control unit of claim 4 , wherein said second interface can be tilted with respect to said first interface.
9. The control unit of claim 1 , further comprising a knob for rotating said housing of the control unit with respect to said user interface.
10. The control unit of claim 4 , wherein said first and said second interfaces are simultaneously operable via a single hand.
11. The control unit of claim 1 , further comprising a user engageable switch for activating/deactivating said user interface.
12. The control unit of claim 11 , wherein deactivation of said user interface freezes the minimally invasive surgical tool in a preset position.