// Press release

Footswitch for medical equipment receives design award

Concentration and millimetre precision are required of ophthalmologists treating cataract patients with the - now standard - phacoemulsification technique. In this procedure the cloudy lens is broken up with a laser and removed through an incision in the retina before a new, artificial lens is implanted. Since the surgeon already needs both hands to guide the laser and hold the instruments, he controls other key functions with his foot. steute has developed a foot control panel especially for this complex task, adapted to the anatomy and natural movements of the foot. This device has just received the “iF product design award 2010”.

The surgeon’s foot rests on a dish-like pedal which holds it securely and enables him to achieve very sensitive positioning, e.g. of the laser. Both the actuation force required and the baseline position of the pedal can be individually set. To the left and right of the central pedal the surgeon can actuate up to eight rocker switches with his toes or heel, creating the ideal conditions for concentrated surgery.

The control panel thus boasts ergonomic advantages. In addition, it can be configurated to permit the same rocker switch to adopt different functions as surgery progresses. In this way the number of necessary control elements can be reduced. As a specialist for “wireless” technologies, the steute product range also includes the phaco control panel with a “steute wireless” module, developed especially with the requirements of medical equipment in mind and removing the need for conventional cables. This improves not only hygiene in the operating theater, but also safety, since cables can no longer present a tripping hazard.