RIBBON SWITCH IN SURGICAL FOOTPEDAL CONTROL

摘要

Apparatus (10) for controlling a handpiece during surgery generally includes a foot pedal (12) pivotally mounted to a base (14) for enabling depression thereof in order to provide control signals for handpiece operation. At leas t one support surface (20, 22) provided adjacent the foot pedal (12) on the ba se (14) at a position enabling access thereto by a user's foot. A ribbon switch (34) is disposed on the support surface (20) and has a length sufficient to enable actuation thereof by a user's foot without visual observation thereof by the user. The ribbon switch (34) is actuable by depression thereof at any point along the length of the ribbon switch (34) in order to provide additional control signals to the handpiece.