IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,256,910
Granted Patent B2
US 12,256,910 · App. 17/330,189 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

System and apparatus for enhancing the ergonomics of a surgical foot pedal

Inventors: Jourdan Colter (Costa Mesa, CA); Brennen Wears (Mission Viejo, CA); Stephen Christopher (Philadelphia, PA)
Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc.
A61B17/00A61B2017/00973
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,256,910
App. No.
17/330,189
Granted
Mar 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention comprises a heel insert for use with a phacoemulsification foot pedal that may shift a surgeon's foot forward on the treadle of a foot pedal to reduce the force required to actuate the foot pedal. The present invention may be easily attachable and removable and may provide a less complicated and alternative foot position for surgeons preferring different treadle mechanics.

Claims (23)

1. A heel shifting device, comprising:

a heel cup insert configured to fit near the proximal end of a foot pedal suitable for receiving the heel of a user, wherein the heel cup insert is attached to the foot pedal by a magnetic force.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the heel cup insert comprises a first top portion between the foot pedal and the heel of the user.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the heel cup insert comprises a second top portion on which the heel of the user rests.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the heel cup insert comprises at least one vertical wall portion for receiving the heel of the user.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of magnets provides the magnetic force.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of magnets located towards the distal end of the heel cup insert provides the magnetic force.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of magnets located towards the proximate end of the heel cup insert provides the magnetic force.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the heel cup insert provides the magnetic force.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the heel cup insert is used as a handle to carry the foot pedal.

10. A surgical system for phacoemulsification, comprising:

a foot pedal communicatively associated with a surgical console, wherein the foot pedal comprises:

a treadle portion on the foot pedal for receiving a user's foot, wherein the treadle portion comprises a proximal end and a distal end; and

a heel stop located at the proximal end of the treadle portion and configured to support a heel of the user's foot; and

a heel cup insert removably attached to the treadle portion and configured to shift the user's foot toward the distal end, wherein the heel cup insert is removably attached to the treadle portion by a magnetic force.

11. The surgical system of claim 10 , wherein the heel cup insert comprises a raised portion between the treadle portion and the back of the heel of the user.

12. The surgical system of claim 10 , wherein the heel cup insert comprises a flat top portion on which the bottom of the user's heel rests.

13. The surgical system of claim 10 , wherein the heel cup insert comprises at least one curved vertical wall portion for ergonomically receiving the heel of the user.

14. The surgical system of claim 10 , wherein a plurality of magnets provide the magnetic force.

15. The surgical system of claim 10 , wherein a plurality of magnets located towards the distal end of the heel cup insert provides the magnetic force.

16. The surgical system of claim 10 , wherein a plurality of magnets located towards the proximal end of the heel cup insert provides the magnetic force.

17. The surgical system of claim 10 , wherein the heel cup insert provides the magnetic force.

18. The surgical system of claim 10 , wherein the heel cup insert is used as a handle to carry the foot pedal.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2021
From: COLTER, JOURDAN; WEARS, BRENNEN; CHRISTOPHER, STEPHEN
To: JOHNSON & JOHNSON SURGICAL VISION, INC.
Reel/Frame 056347/0825 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63037948 · Jun 11, 2020
Related Publication 20210386412A1 · Dec 16, 2021
References Cited (35)
US D192917S · Aymar et al. · 1962 [cited by applicant]
US D194678S · Harry et al. · 1963 [cited by applicant]
US D234085S · Stralhammer · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 4983901A · Lehmer · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5268624A · Zanger · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5342293A · Zanger · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5554894A · Sepielli · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 6260434B1 · Holtorf · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6360630B2 · Holtorf · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6452120B1 · Chen · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6452123B1 · Chen · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6674030B2 · Chen et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6962581B2 · Thoe · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US D708593S · Lynn et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9659553B1 · Lawrence · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US D867307S · Braaten et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US D878308S · Engler et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10747255B2 · Gahler et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10901450B2 · Jawidzik · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 10925680B2 · Jawidzik · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US D911982S · Colter et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US D954004S · Colter et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20040035242A1 · Peterson · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 20040106915A1 · Thoe · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050103607A1 · Mezhinsky · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20080067046A1 · Dacquay et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20110106068A1 · Horvath et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20130169412A1 · Roth · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140135785A1 · Tran et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140364864A1 · Lynn et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150148615A1 · Brennan et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150173725A1 · Maxson et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20170136159A1 · Mallough · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20180132958A1 · Jochinsen · 2018 [cited by examiner]
WO 2019232002A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]